NORTHERN IRELAND

Christmas

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the Answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1636W, on Christmas, for what reason his Department spent £33,000 on Christmas receptions in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Every year the Northern Ireland Office use Hillsborough Castle to host a series of receptions at Christmas time to bring a wide cross-section of the community together and to use these opportunities to build community confidence.
	2008 was in exactly the same mould as previous years. The four Christmas receptions held in Northern Ireland in 2007 were attended by over 1,400 members of the public drawn from the criminal justice, policing, military, business, charity and community sectors. The guests included families of the security forces and serving personnel, representatives of victims groups, churches and businesses, as well as many others working in the community sectors across Northern Ireland.
	These events provide some recognition of the tremendous contribution made by people, both individually and collectively, who have helped to transform Northern Ireland. We work hard to monitor costs at these occasions as we are mindful in Government of the need to provide value for money. Anyone with a close understanding of Northern Ireland will know the value of these occasions in bringing people together in a renewed political environment.

Departmental Domestic Visits

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 772-3W, on departmental domestic visits, how many of the overnight visits involved staying in an hotel.

Shaun Woodward: None.

Departmental Lobbying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether Ministers in his Department received representations from  (a) Lord Moonie,  (b) Lord Taylor of Blackburn,  (c) Lord Snape and  (d) Lord Truscott in the last seven months.

Shaun Woodward: No such representations have been received.

Weapons

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent estimate he has made of the number of guns held by  (a) loyalist paramilitaries and  (b) republican dissidents.

Paul Goggins: This is an intelligence matter and it is the longstanding practice of successive Governments not to comment on such matters.

WALES

Departmental Foreign Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many  (a) EU foreign nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals are employed by his Department.

Paul Murphy: None.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which ICT projects initiated by his Department were abandoned before completion in each year since 1997; what costs were incurred on each project; who the contractors were; what the date of  (a) commencement and  (b) abandonment was in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Lady to my answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 192W.

Digital Broadcasting: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps are being taken to increase levels of digital inclusion in Leeds West constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Several activities are taking place in Leeds to promote digital inclusion:
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families Computers for Pupils programme has helped over 3,000 pupils in Leeds since its inception, and a further 400 learners will benefit from grant funding recently awarded under the new Home Access for Targeted Groups fund., West constituency host UK online centres, which act as 'Media Beacons', helping young people who are excluded from school to use new technologies such as music video software and to operate community radio stations, as part of their 'Interplay Theatre' programme. These centres also offer training on new media to staff in other parts of the UK online centres network.
	Leeds city council provides public access and training in internet use throughout their network of libraries and community centres. A mobile learning vehicle offers internet access on a regular route around targeted communities, and the city's mobile library vehicles will shortly be fitted with wifi internet access.
	In December, senior officers from the city council met to raise awareness of the impact that technology can have on communities and the advantages that it can deliver. A 'Digital Community Vision' is now being developed which will identify and capture the city's digital inclusion aspirations for the future, leading to an action plan for further digital inclusion work.

Legal Services Commission

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had on the future of the Legal Services Commission in Wales with  (a) the Secretary of State for Justice and  (b) the First Minister; and if he will make a statement.

Wayne David: I have discussed this issue with the Welsh Minister for Social Justice and Local Government and with colleagues at the Ministry of Justice. I have also corresponded with my noble Friend Lord Bach, Minister for Legal Aid.
	My right hon. Friend and I will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Justice and the Welsh Assembly Government to ensure that where efficiency savings need to be made within the Legal Services Commission, the best solution for Wales is found.

TRANSPORT

A1: Road Traffic

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to reduce congestion on the A1 in  (a) Tyne and Wear and  (b) Northumberland.

Paul Clark: The A1 through Northumberland suffers little in the way of congestion. Schemes to dual discrete sections of the A1 north of Newcastle are being considered for funding by the north-east region, as part of the current regional funding allocation process.
	The A1 through Tyne and Wear suffers severe congestion at peak times, and this can extend to periods outside the daily peak, particularly if incidents occur. A number of measures have been carried out over the last few years to improve route performance. These include signing and lining improvements, a slow moving vehicle ban in peak periods, variable message signing (VMS), close circuit television (CCTV), the introduction of the traffic officers, free to customer breakdown recovery services, and the "Retriever" motorcycle which can get to incidents more quickly and tow vehicles up-to 1,600 kg in weight to recently built emergency refuges.
	The Department for Transport publication "Britain's Transport Infrastructure: Motorways and Trunk Roads" in January 2009 stated that the Highways Agency will continue to work with local authorities to consider further the options for relieving congestion on the A1 around Newcastle and Gateshead.
	Following the earlier government study the Highways Agency is looking at options for upgrading the A1 Newcastle and Gateshead Western Bypass. This work is being informed by the outcomes of the Tyne and Wear authorities "People in Motion" demand management study, and findings of the agency's work are expected to be considered in the first half of 2009.

A303: Inspections

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles of each nationality of registration were  (a) inspected and  (b) prohibited following inspection at the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency checkpoint at Wylye on the A303(T) in the latest year for which figures are available; and for what reasons each vehicle was prohibited.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)'s inspection figures from its site at Wylye are as follows:
	
		
			  Country  Roadworthiness inspections  Mechanical prohibitions 
			  Heavy goods vehicle roadworthiness inspections   
			 Belgium 1 0 
			 Eire 2 1 
			 France 1 0 
			 Germany 0 0 
			 Great Britain 32 6 
			 Lithuania 3 0 
			 Netherlands 4 2 
			 Northern Ireland 0 0 
			 Poland 4 0 
			 Romania 1 1 
			 Slovenia 2 1 
			 Spain 1 0 
			 Yugoslavia 1 0 
			 Grand total 52 11 
			
			  Trailer roadworthiness inspections   
			 Belgium 4 1 
			 Eire 1 0 
			 France 1 0 
			 Great Britain 13 3 
			 Lithuania 1 0 
			 Netherlands 6 2 
			 Poland 2 2 
			 Slovenia 2 0 
			 Spain 1 1 
			 Yugoslavia 1 0 
			 Grand total 32 9 
		
	
	
		
			  Heavy goods vehicle traffic inspections 
			  Country  Traffic inspections  Drivers hours prohibitions  Weighed inspections  Overloads prohibitions 
			 Belgium 0 0 0 0 
			 Eire 0 0 0 0 
			 France 2 0 2 0 
			 Germany 1 0 1 1 
			 Great Britain 5 2 3 1 
			 Lithuania 1 0 1 0 
			 Netherlands 3 1 2 0 
			 Northern Ireland 1 1 1 0 
			 Poland 1 0 1 0 
			 Romania 0 0 0 0 
			 Slovenia 2 2 2 0 
			 Spain 1 0 1 0 
			 Yugoslavia 1 0 1 0 
			 Grand total 18 6 15 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Light goods vehicle traffic inspections 
			  Country  Weighed inspections  Overloading prohibitions 
			 Great Britain 3 3 
			 Poland 1 1 
			 Grand total 4 4 
		
	
	Figures are from April 08 to January 2009.

Air Passenger Bonds

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the terms of the original Civil Aviation Authority insurance policy with American International Group on air passenger bonds.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Air Travel Trust Fund is currently structured to meet tour operator failure costs through a combination of cash, credit facilities and insurance. Cash is received primarily from ATOL Protection Contributions, and Barclays Bank plc provides credit facilities totalling £60 million, which includes a level of liquidity supported by a Government Guarantee.
	The insurance policy placed by the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust with AIG UK Limited and Axis Specialty Ltd., is designed to provide the Air Travel Trust with access to funds in the event of a major tour operator failure where costs arising from refund and repatriation exceed £50 million in a year. The policy document is subject to a confidentiality agreement and the insurers have declined permission to disclose the terms of the policy.

Air Passenger Bonds

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish details of the PricewaterhouseCoopers financial model on air passenger bonds prepared for his Department and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Jim Fitzpatrick: A detailed overview of the financial model, of the Air Travel Trust, was included in appendix 4 of the "Consultation on Reform of ATOL Bonding Arrangements and the Replenishment of the Air Travel Trust Fund", published by the Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport in April 2007. The consultation document can be viewed at:
	http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/Consultation_ATOL_ Reform_2007.pdf
	The model was produced by the Civil Aviation Authority (commissioned by the trustees of the Air Travel Trust), to assess the sustainability of a per passenger ATOL Protection Contribution in building up sufficient funds to meet potential refund and repatriation costs arising from the failure of tour operators, under different adverse scenarios. External forecasts from third parties such as travel companies, insurance firms and banks were used as the basis for assumptions. Information was received from a spread of ATOL license holders, including the four largest air travel tour operators, five medium sized operators and two online tour operators. The spread of firms accounted for more than half of all passengers covered by the ATOL protection scheme.
	The Civil Aviation Authority engaged a professional services firm with expertise in economic modelling and the travel sector to review the model methodology, its fitness for purpose and a number of the underlying assumptions. The detailed overview in appendix 4 of the consultation paper took into account the work undertaken by the firm appointed by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Air Passenger Bonds

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations  (a) his Department and  (b) the Civil Aviation Authority have received on the adequacy of cover for bonding arrangements for passengers travelling by aircraft, with particular reference to the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on Reform of Air Travel Organisers' Licensing bonding arrangements.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The "Consultation on Reform of ATOL Bonding Arrangements and the Replenishment of the Air Travel Trust Fund", was published by the Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport in April 2007. The consultation document can be viewed at:
	http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/Consultation_ATOL_ Reform_2007.pdf
	There were 88 respondents to this consultation and a summary of the responses is available on the Department for Transport website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/archive/2007/atol/summary
	A large majority of responses supported the introduction of a £1 per passenger ATOL Protection Contribution (APC) to replace bonding as the main means of meeting costs from the failure of tour operators and to replenish the Air Travel Trust Fund. The decision to introduce the APC was announced to Parliament on 22 October 2007.

Biofuels

Andrew Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government is taking to foster the development of second generation biofuels.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) creates a market for first generation biofuels which in turn helps to set the right conditions for the development of commercially viable second generation biofuels. The UK will be required to modify the RTFO in order to implement the Renewable Energy Directive in 2010. The directive incentivises second generation biofuels through requiring member states to count their contribution towards renewable energy targets as twice those of first generation biofuels. We shall be consulting later this year about how to take forward the implementation of the directive in UK legislation.
	In addition the Government have recently announced £20 million of funding for the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council's (BBSRC) new Sustainable Bioenergy Centre. This is a £27 million initiative aiming to build UK capacity in bioenergy research. Among other things, it will target research on the development of second generation bioenergy and biofuels. Last autumn the Government also announced that the Department anticipates contributing up to £3 million per year over the next two financial years to the Carbon Trust's Advanced Bioenergy Directed Research Accelerator. This will allow the Carbon Trust to further increase its advanced bioenergy research and development activities.

Bus Services: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding his Department provided to Chorley Borough Council for the purposes of concessionary bus travel in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Paul Clark: holding answer 9 February 2009
	 Before 1 April 2008, funding for the statutory minimum bus concession was provided exclusively through the Formula Grant system, which is administered by the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG). The Department for Transport therefore provided no direct funding to Chorley borough council for concessionary bus travel in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	The Department did however provide Chorley borough council with £69,004 in 2007-08 for the cost of producing and issuing the new England-wide bus passes to all their eligible people. In 2008-09 DFT will provide Chorley borough council with special grant funding of £280,000 for the improvement to statutory concessionary travel; this is in addition to the existing formula grant funding from CLG. The Special Grant Funding represents a 33 per cent. increase in funding over and above Chorley borough council's declared costs of £0.85 million for concessionary travel in 2007-08.

Delegated Examiners: Greater London

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many delegated examiners there are in the Greater London area.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Holding answer 11 February 2009
	There are 23 delegated examiners in the Greater London area working for fire and police authorities and bus and coach operators.

Heathrow Airport: Air Pollution

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of  (a) nitrogen oxides,  (b) carbon dioxide and  (c) other greenhouse gasses recorded at Heathrow were caused by (i) aircraft, (ii) cars and (iii) each specified other source in each year since 1995; and what percentage he expects to be caused by each source in each year up to 2020.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 22 January 2009
	The following sets out the information available:
	 Nitrogen oxide (NO x ) emissions
	The White Paper set out the following strict conditions from 2010, in line with the current European Union directive on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) related pollutants(1):
	Hourly limit value for the protection of human health: 200micro/m3 NO2, not to be exceeded more than 18 times in a calendar year; and
	Annual limit value for the protection of human health: 40micro/m3 NO2 annual average.
	The Department for Transport's 2007 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation' document concluded that these conditions could be met.
	Further information is available in the following documents:
	'Air Quality Studies for Heathrow: Base Case, Segregated Mode, Mixed Mode' and 'Third Runway Scenarios modelled using ADMS'—Airport, 15 November 2007, Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants, Table 4.5-4.7; Table 4.12-4.13
	'Heathrow Airport Emission Summaries', October 2007, AEA Energy and Environment, Table 4.1.4-Table 4.8.4 Annual emissions by source category, available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/heathrowconsultation/technicalreports/emissionsummaries.pdf
	 Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions
	Published emissions data from DECC are at the national level only these are listed by source category, including breakdown by transport mode.
	Published data at the UK national level can be found in Table 4a of 'Estimated emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2 expressed as carbon dioxide) by IPCC source category: 1970-2006—last published 31 January 2008 at the following link:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/download/xls/gatb04.xls
	Data based on fuel uplifted at Heathrow is reported—this is published in the Department for Transport's 2009 impact assessment 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport', where aviation carbon dioxide emissions attributable to flights departing from Heathrow in 2005 are estimated at 17.2 MtCO2 or 2.9 per cent. of total UK CO2 emissions.
	Data are not available regarding CO2 emissions released specifically into the air surrounding Heathrow so the percentages by source are not available.
	 Other greenhouse gas emissions
	Other greenhouse gas emissions are not currently reported specifically for the Heathrow area.
	(1)The revised directive provides for later compliance (up to 2015) in certain circumstances

Heathrow Airport: Air Pollution

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average  (a) nitrogen oxide and  (b) carbon dioxide emissions per passenger mile (i) were and (ii) are predicted to be for average aircraft using Heathrow Airport in (A) 1990, (B) 1995, (C) 2000, (D) 2005, (E) 2010, (F) 2015, (G) 2020 and (H) 2025.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following information sets out what information is available for:  (a) NOx emissions;  (b) CO2 emissions, and  (c) other greenhouse gas emissions:
	 Nitrogen Oxides (NO x ) Emissions
	The White Paper set out the following strict conditions from 2010, in line with the current European Union directive on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) related pollutants(1):
	Hourly limit value for the protection of human health—200micro/m3 NO2, not to be exceeded more than 18 times in a calendar year; and
	Annual limit value for the protection of human health—40micro/m3 NO2 annual average
	The Department for Transport's 2007 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' consultation document concluded that these conditions could be met.
	Further information is available in the following documents:
	Air Quality Studies for Heathrow: Base Case, Segregated Mode, Mixed Mode and Third Runway Scenarios modelled using ADMS-Airport, 15 November 2007, Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants, Table 4.5—4.7; Table 4.12—4.13
	Heathrow Airport Emission Summaries, October 2007, AEA Energy and Environment, Table 4.1.4—Table 4.8.4 Annual emissions by source category, available at:
	http://w\/vw.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/heathrowconsultation/technicalreports/emissionsummaries.pdf
	 Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Emissions
	There is limited data regarding past CO2 emissions at Heathrow airport specifically. Published emissions data from DECC are at the national level only. However, data based on fuel uplifted at Heathrow are reported—this is published in the Department for Transport's 2009 'Impact Assessment Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport', where aviation carbon dioxide emissions attributable to flights departing from Heathrow in 2005 are estimated at 17.2MtCO2 or 2.9 per cent. of total UK CO2. emissions.
	Average CO2 emissions from aircraft at Heathrow airport in 2005 are estimated from DfT modelling to be around 114 grams of CO2 per passenger km. This is in line with the air transport conversion factors published by DEFRA in 2008 and reflects the mix of aircraft used and flights made from Heathrow in that year.
	For future years, the Government have announced a new target to get UK aviation carbon dioxide emissions in 2050 below 2005 levels for the UK as a whole.
	Once aviation joins the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in 2012, CO2 emissions from all flights departing and arriving at airports in the EU will be capped at 97 per cent. of average 2004-06 levels, with the cap tightening to 95 per cent. of average 2004-06 levels from 2013 onwards (the cap applies at the EU level, and not at individual member state or airport levels). Any aviation emissions above this cap will need to be accounted for by airlines securing reductions from other sectors within the EU ETS. So any change in the capacity of Heathrow in future years will not lead to any net increase in CO2 emissions.
	(1 )The revised directive provides for later compliance (up to 2015) in certain circumstances

Heathrow Airport: Greenhouse Gases

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what levels of  (a) nitrogen oxide,  (b) carbon dioxide and  (c) other green house gases have been released in the air surrounding Heathrow Airport in each year since 1995; and what estimate he has made of the level of each at Heathrow in each year to 2020.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 21 January 2009
	The following information sets out what information is available for:  (a) NOx emissions;  (b) CO2 emissions, and  (c) other greenhouse gas emissions.
	 Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Emissions
	The White Paper set out the following strict conditions from 2010, in line with the current European Union Directive on nitrogen dioxide (NO2) related pollutants(1):
	Hourly limit value for the protection of human health—200micro/m3 NO2, not to be exceeded more than 18 times in a calendar year; and
	Annual limit value for the protection of human health—40micro/m3 NO2 annual average
	The Department for Transport's 2007 "Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport" consultation document concluded that these conditions could be met.
	Further information is available in the following documents:
	"Air Quality Studies for Heathrow: Base Case, Segregated Mode, Mixed Mode and Third Runway Scenarios modelled using ADMS-Airport", 15 November 2007, Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants, Table 4.5—4.7; Table 4.12—4.13
	"Heathrow Airport Emission Summaries", October 2007, AEA Energy and Environment, Table 4.1.4—Table 4.8.4 Annual emissions by source category, available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/heathrowconsultation/technicalreports/emissionsummaries.pdf
	 Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Emissions
	There is limited data regarding past CO2 emissions at Heathrow airport specifically. Published emissions data from DECC are at the national level only. However, data based on fuel uplifted at Heathrow is reported—this is published in the Department for Transport's 2009 Impact Assessment "Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport", where aviation carbon dioxide emissions attributable to flights departing from Heathrow in 2005 are estimated at 17.2MtCO2 or 2.9 per cent. of total UK CO2. emissions.
	For future years, the Government have announced a new target to get UK aviation carbon dioxide emissions in 2050 below 2005 levels for the UK as a whole.
	Once aviation joins the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in 2012, CO2 emissions from all flights departing and arriving at airports in the EU will be capped at 97 per cent. of average 2004-06 levels, with the cap tightening to 95 per cent. of average 2004-06 levels from 2013 onwards (the cap applies at the EU level, and not at individual member state or airport levels). Any aviation emissions above this cap will need to be accounted for by airlines securing reductions from other sectors within the EU ETS. So any change in the capacity of Heathrow in future years will not lead to any net increase in CO2 emissions.
	 Other Greenhouse Gas Emissions
	Other greenhouse gas emissions are not currently reported specifically for Heathrow airport.
	(1) The revised directive provides for later compliance (up to 2015) in certain circumstances .

Heathrow Airport: Road Traffic

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the additional road vehicle movements which would result from  (a) an increase from 67 to 122 million passengers a year and  (b) an increase of 125,000 flight movements a year at Heathrow Airport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Forecasts of surface access demand at Heathrow are set out in BAA's 'Surface Access Report', published alongside the 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' consultation document. This is available at the following link:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/heathrowconsultation/technicalreports/surfaceaccess.pdf
	The figure of 122 million passengers assumes around 702,000 flights a year in 2030, whereas we are initially supporting a maximum of 605,000 (an additional 125,000 a year). The additional number of passengers accessing the airport by road is therefore expected to be around 14 million, around half the number previously assumed.

Heathrow Airport: Road Traffic

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of additional car journeys per day which will result from the establishment of a third runway at Heathrow, broken down by major road.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Forecasts of surface access demand at Heathrow are set out in BAA's 'Surface Access Report', published alongside the 2007 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' consultation document. This is available on the Department's website at the following link:
	http://wvwv.dft.gov.uk/consultations/closed/heathrowconsultation/technicalreports/surfaceaccess.pdf
	Table 36 reproduced below shows the daily traffic composition for the main road corridors (A4, M4 and M25) with a third runway in 2020 and 605,000 air transport movements a year, which is the limit we are supporting initially.
	
		
			  Table 36: Traffic composition at air quality hotspots for the R3/T6 core scenario in 2020 
			Percentage  
			  Air quality hotspot  Road  Map r ef  Car: air passengers  Cars: business  Cars: non business  Light goods v ehicles  Heavy goods v ehicles  Buses  Annual average daily traffic 
			 A4 corridor Northern perimeter road (E of Spur) 1 4 14 32 7 3 40 5,900 
			  A4 (E of Spur) 2 1 7 73 10 6 2 31,800 
			   
			 M4 corridor A312 S of M4 3 6 5 59 22 8 1 60,700 
			  M4 Spur 4 78 2 15 2 2 2 99,800 
			  M4 J4b-5 5 8 12 63 8 8 0 165,300 
			  M4 J4-4b 6 36 6 45 6 8 0 164,400 
			  M4 J3-4 7 27 7 51 8 8 0 147,800 
			  M4 J 2-3 8 35 7 46 8 5 1 103,800 
			   
			 M25 corridor M25 J13-14 9 12 12 61 8 7 0 224,600 
			  M25 J14-T5 Spur 10 8 14 62 8 8 0 174,100 
			  M25 T5 Spur-J15 11 21 12 53 7 7 0 236,800 
			  M25 J15-16 12 21 12 51 7 9 0 210,400

Passenger Focus

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost to the public purse was of Passenger Focus in the latest 12 months for which figures are available.

Paul Clark: The total cost of Passenger Focus to the public purse in 2007-08 was £5.315 million.

Railways: Bus Services

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on rail replacement bus services in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Clark: The information is not held by the Department for Transport and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Railways: Employment

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has had any discussions with train operators about the effect on their businesses of a reduction in  (a) UK GDP and  (b) Central London employment levels.

Paul Clark: There are regular meetings with all operators to discuss all aspects of their performance. These discussions include, where appropriate, the impacts of UK GDP and central London employment levels on revenues.

Railways: Fares

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the RP plus one per cent. formula for regulated fares may result in a negative number.

Paul Clark: Yes, the RPI plus 1 formula for regulated fares may result in a negative number.

Railways: Franchises

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions about  (a) economic growth and  (b) passenger volumes were made in the franchise agreements for the (i) East Coast Main Line, (ii) East Midlands, (iii) South West Trains, (iv) South Eastern and (v) East Anglian franchises.

Paul Clark: The information requested is commercially confidential between the Department for Transport and the respective train operators.

Railways: Snow and Ice

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of contingency plans made by Network Rail and train operating companies to minimise disruption to rail services caused by severe weather events; when he next plans to review the implementation of those plans; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The handling of major disruptions to rail services is reviewed in detail by the industry to see what can be learned for the future. Ministers meet senior representatives of the industry regularly to discuss rail performance.
	The Department for Transport will encourage the industry to implement any improvements to contingency planning which are identified following the recent bad weather.

Shipping: Carbon Emissions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Government's policy is on the development of a global emissions trading scheme for shipping under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government are clear that shipping emissions must be tackled and that the shipping sector must operate under carbon limits. We believe that a coordinated multilateral maritime carbon emissions trading system is the best option for delivering cost-effective reductions while maintaining a thriving shipping sector.
	The Government actively support the development of such a scheme under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization. If this proves impossible we would support inclusion of maritime emissions in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. However, because of the world-wide nature of the shipping industry, the Government believe that any action by the EU should be seen as a stepping stone to future global agreements on international shipping emissions.
	We are working with industry and our European partners to develop further the maritime emissions trading concept.

Taxis: Disabled People

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of progress on implementation of new regulations covering access to taxis for people with disabilities.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport published a consultation document about improving access to taxis on 2 February and this consultation will run for the statutory 12-week period. The consultation looks at ways to make taxi services more accessible to disabled people. We will consider in detail the responses to the consultation to inform the way forward.

Thameslink: Procurement

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the latest expected timing is of the  (a) (i) start and (ii) completion of Stage 1 and  (b) the delivery of the new units to the Thameslink franchise for Phase 1.

Paul Clark: The Thameslink timetable change which comes into effect on 22 March 2009 marks the start of the Key Output One stage of the Thameslink Programme. This stage is due for completion in March 2012.
	The first new Class 377 dual voltage unit was delivered to Southern trains on 30 January 2009. The remaining 22 units will follow over the next few months.

Transport: EC Action

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions of EU directives within his Department's responsibilities have not yet been transposed into United Kingdom law; in respect of the provisions of which such directives the UK has been subject to infringement action by the European Commission since January 2005; and what stage has been reached in such actions in each case.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are 24 EU directives within my Department's responsibilities that have not yet been transposed into UK law. The stages of infringement proceedings are:
	Five are the subject of Article 226 Letters.
	Four are at the Article 226 Reasoned Opinion stage.
	Four were the subject of infringement proceedings that have since been closed or withdrawn.
	11 are not yet subject to infringement proceedings by the Commission.

Transport: Snow and Ice

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with train operators about services which did not operate on 2 February 2009; and what steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence of those problems.

Paul Clark: Of the just over 18,000 trains due to have run on 2 February, nearly 9,000 reached their destination on time and another 2,000 ran but arrived late. The remaining 7,000 were cancelled, most of them on routes south of the Thames.
	The provision of train services is a matter for operators and I am satisfied that they understand the need to have arrangements in place to deal with exceptional weather. Ministers have not therefore sought to discuss train performance on 2 February with them.

Vehicle Number Plates: Flags

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2008,  Official Report, column 613W, on vehicle number plates: flags, when he plans to make an announcement on the way forward.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government are bringing forward the new legislation to legalise the display of national flags on number plates in GB as soon as possible. It is expected, subject to the outcome of an informal consultation, that the revised regulations will come into force around the end of April 2009.

Wrexham-Bidston Railway Line

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans the Government has for the electrification of the Bidston to Wrexham railway line.

Paul Clark: h olding answer 11 February 2009
	 A cross-industry working group led by Network Rail is assessing the case for electrifying a wide range of lines. The group is expected to publish its conclusions at the end of March.
	If costs can be reduced and funding identified, it would be for Merseytravel to consider whether a Bidston to Wrexham scheme is suitable to promote for major scheme funding via its local transport plan, provided that this is endorsed as a priority as part of the regional funding allocation process.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Consultants

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Prime Minister how many expert advisers, excluding special advisers, have been commissioned by his Office since June 2007; and on which topics they have advised.

Gordon Brown: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 12 January 2009, Official Report , column 53W.

Departmental Internet

Mark Harper: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a copy of No. 10 Downing Street's website accessibility plan.

Gordon Brown: Information on accessibility is available on the No. 10 website at:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/footer/accessibility
	A copy of this web page has been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Public Appointments

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister which of the public appointments for which he is responsible are due to be  (a) renewed and  (b) filled in the next 24 months; what the (i) remit, (ii) salary, (iii) political restrictions, (iv) eligibility requirement and (v) timetable for each appointment is; and what records his Office keeps in respect of such appointments.

Gordon Brown: Information on public appointments I make are published on the No. 10 website and announced to Parliament where appropriate. More detailed information about individual appointments is set out in the relevant body's annual report. Vacancies may also be advertised on the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website at
	www.publicappointments.gov.uk
	The process for making a public appointment, including guidance on political activity and eligibility criteria, follows the Cabinet Office publication "Making and Managing Public Appointments". For appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the appointments process also complies with the "Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies". Copies are in the Libraries of the House.

Energy and Climate Change

Gregory Barker: To ask the Prime Minister what work the No. 10 Policy Directorate  (a) has undertaken and  (b) plans to undertake on energy and climate-related matters.

Gordon Brown: The No. 10 Policy Unit covers all Government policy, including energy and climate-related matters.

Forfeiture Committee

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  on how many occasions the Forfeiture Committee has met since 1997;
	(2)  whether peerages fall within the terms of reference of the Forfeiture Committee.

Gordon Brown: Arrangements for the Forfeiture Committee are as set out by the then Prime Minister, the right hon. Sir John Major, on 2 December 1994,  Official Report, column 923W
	"Cancellation is considered in cases where retention of the appointment or award would bring the honours system into disrepute. There are no set guidelines for cancellations, which are considered on a case-by-case basis."
	Details of forfeitures are published in the  London Gazette. Peerages do not fall within the terms of reference of the Forfeiture Committee.

Israel: Anniversaries

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister to what events held in the United Kingdom to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel he has been invited; what such invitations he has  (a) accepted and  (b) declined; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: It is already a matter of public record. I attended the Embassy of Israel 60(th) Anniversary Reception on 12 May 2008 in London.

Ministerial Appointments

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister under what circumstances Ministerial appointments may be made for a fixed-term period at the request of the appointee.

Gordon Brown: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 28 January 2009,  Official Report, column 541W.

Peers: Lobbying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister whether he received representations from  (a) Lord Moonie,  (b) Lord Taylor of Blackburn,  (c) Lord Snape and  (d) Lord Truscott in the last seven months.

Gordon Brown: No.

Russia

Greg Hands: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  when he last met Russian President Medvedev;
	(2)  when he last met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Gordon Brown: I have regular discussions with the Russian leadership, including at G8 and G20 summits.
	I have invited President Medvedev to the G20 in London in April.

Written Questions

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister how many parliamentary questions he has not answered since June 2007 on the grounds of disproportionate cost; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: The information requested is a matter of public record and can be found in the  Official Report.

Written Questions

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister how many parliamentary questions for written answer he has transferred to other Ministers since May 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: Questions are answered by the responsible Minister. Details of transfers can be found in the daily "Questions Book", copies of which are available in the Vote Office.

TREASURY

Tax Avoidance

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what HM Revenue and Customs' most recent estimate is of the annual cost to the Exchequer of tax avoidance in the corporate sector; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Due to its nature, it is difficult to be precise about the scale of avoidance. The most recent estimate, published by HMRC last March but relating to the start of the decade, showed corporate tax avoidance to be in the range £2.1 billion to £6.6 billion per year. HMRC continues to close down loopholes as it becomes aware of them.

Banking Industry

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the remuneration packages for senior executives of banks which are in temporary public ownership or which have received recapitalisation funding from the public purse; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: For those banks that we recapitalised last October there were conditions imposed in relation to bank lending and restrictions on rewards for senior executives and on payment of dividends.

Banking Industry

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on bank lending policies of his recapitalisation of the banks.

Ian Pearson: The measures that the Government announced on 8 October were to ensure the stability of the financial system and to protect ordinary savers, depositors, businesses and borrowers.
	The Government's recapitalisation scheme has helped to reduce the inter-bank lending rate, and the cost of insuring inter-bank lending through credit default swaps. As a result the price of wholesale funding—the money the banks use to finance lending to their customers—has come down considerably.
	As part of their investment, the Government have agreed with the banks supported by the recapitalisation scheme a range of commitments, including on lending.

Banking Industry

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on remuneration packages for staff of banks which are in temporary public ownership or which have received recapitalisation funding from the public purse.

Ian Pearson: UK Financial Investments (UKFI) has been set up to manage the Treasury's shareholding in recapitalised banks. UKFI has a role in scrutinising banks compliance with the recapitalisation conditions, and also in scrutinising banks remuneration policies—to protect the interests of the taxpayer as a major shareholder.
	The Government have rightly been closely involved in decisions on rewards for senior executives—those who made the decisions that brought the banks into difficulty. We have ensured that none of the banks accessing the recapitalisation scheme will award cash bonuses for 2008 to board members.

Banking Industry

Derek Twigg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on bank lending policies of his recapitalisation of the banks.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Lynda Waltho) today (256299).

Global Economic Situation

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on measures to reduce the effects of the global economic downturn in EU member states.

Angela Eagle: The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Treasury Ministers attend regular meetings of EU Ministers, including the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers (ECOFIN). These discussions cover a wide range of issues including the co-ordination of measures among EU member states. The European economic recovery plan, as agreed by the December European Council, outlined a range of measures for member states to enact a co-ordinated response to the economic downturn.

UK Economy

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions his Department has had with the International Monetary Fund on the UK's economic performance.

Yvette Cooper: The IMF holds bilateral discussions with each of its member countries, usually every year as part of its country surveillance function, under Article IV of the IMF's articles of agreement. IMF staff last visited London in May 2008 and met with various institutions including HM Treasury to discuss issues relating to the economy. The Government of course continue also to work closely with the IMF and other international partners in responding to the financial crisis.

UK Economy

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what forecasts of economic growth he has made for  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Stephen Timms: The Government's most recent forecasts were published at the pre-Budget report. We will publish updated forecasts at the time of Budget 2009, as is normal practice. This will include a full assessment of developments and prospects for the world and UK economies, based on all relevant factors.

Business Rates

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next plans to review the liability of property owners for business rates on empty commercial properties.

Angela Eagle: In the pre-Budget report, the Government temporarily raised the threshold for exemption from national non-domestic rates on empty properties from £2,200 to £15,000 to take effect from 1 April 2009. As a result, an estimated 70 per cent. of empty properties will be exempt from business rates in the 2009-10 tax year.
	Any further decisions on taxation are matters for the Chancellor at Budget.

Financial Markets

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the effects on financial markets of media reporting on those markets.

Angela Eagle: The Chancellor receives representations from a wide range of stakeholders on issues relating to financial markets issues.
	In October 2008 the Government announced a comprehensive package of support for the financial system both to support the stability of the banking system and to protect savers and depositors. On 19 January the Government announced a second support package designed to reinforce the stability of the financial system and provide a longer-term solution.
	I follow media reporting on the markets with interest. It is routinely of a high quality. I hope all commentators, whether from the financial markets or from the general media, will continue to report responsibly, and bear in mind that unsubstantiated speculation has the potential to undermine financial stability and harm savers and depositors.

Savers

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department plans to take to assist savers who are pensioners during the economic downturn.

Ian Pearson: The Government are committed to supporting pensioners through the global economic slowdown, providing support for all, but more for those who need it most. A range of measures was announced at PBR 2008 to support pensioners including an extra £60 payment, and an increase in the pension credit by more than indexation, on top of the additional support announced in last year's Budget.

Bingo Clubs

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will remove liability for value added tax from bingo clubs.

Angela Eagle: The Chancellor keeps all taxes under review and decisions about gambling taxation are made at the Budget alongside all tax and spending decisions. The Government take all relevant factors into consideration when establishing and maintaining fair gambling tax regimes. These include the state of the industry and wider conditions within the economy.

Miners: Tax

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the decision to tax miners with small pensions from April 2009.

Ian Pearson: HMRC intend to bring a number of previously untaxed pensions into tax under PAYE from April 2009. We have received representations about this from a number of pensioner lobby groups, but none specifically in relation to miners.

Budget Statement

John Howell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his forecasts for the public finances and economic growth in the UK before the Budget statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government will publish updated forecasts at the time of Budget 2009, as is normal practice. This will include a full assessment of developments and prospects for the world and UK economies, based on all relevant factors.

Climate Change

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account he has taken of the effect of climate change on the economy in his preparations for the carbon budget.

Angela Eagle: The Climate Change Act requires the Secretary of State to take into account economic circumstances in setting the level of carbon budgets. Action to achieve environmental goals remains a high priority for the Government in the current economic circumstances. The Government will consider carefully the Committee on Climate Change advice on economic impacts of carbon budgets and announce the levels of the first three carbon budgets alongside Budget 2009.

State Pensions

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will replace the 25p age addition to state pensions with an additional £25 on the winter fuel allowance for the over-80s as a Budget measure.

Ian Pearson: The Government provide additional support to older pensioners. Higher age-related allowances and free TV licences help those aged over 75, while households with someone aged over 80 receive a higher winter fuel payment. The Government keep all tax and benefit rates under review as part of the normal Budget process.

Company Taxation

David Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that companies in the financial sector are paying the appropriate levels of taxation.

Stephen Timms: It is important that all taxpayers pay their fair share of tax. Most corporates, including those in the financial sector, do pay their fair share. The Government will continue to tackle those companies who deliberately seek to evade or avoid tax. Each recent Budget has contained measures to close down avoidance schemes with a potential annual cost of £1-1½ billion a year.

Bank of England: Assets

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Bank of England has received requests to buy assets in all sectors.

Angela Eagle: As set out in its market notice on 6 February 2009, the Bank of England is currently consulting with the financial markets on the operational details of the asset purchase facility. The facility is expected to commence operation on 13 February 2009.

Banks: Finance

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total monetary value of funds drawn down against the Bank of England Special Liquidity Scheme has been to date.

Angela Eagle: The drawdown period for the SLS closed on 30 January. The nominal value of Treasury Bills drawdown as of 30 January 2009 was £185 billion. The monetary value of Treasury Bills changes based on market prices.
	Further details can be accessed via the Bank of England website:
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/news/2009/006.htm

Banks: Finance

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what monitoring his Department has put in place to determine whether additional bank recapitalisation may be necessary.

Angela Eagle: In addition to decisive actions taken last October, on 19 January the Government announced further measures designed to reinforce the stability of the financial system, to increase confidence and capacity to lend, and in turn to support the recovery of the economy.
	The Government are now working to implement these schemes and will monitor the impact of these measures.

Banks: Finance

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the expected exposure range for the Government's insurance scheme for banks for expected bad debts is;
	(2)  whether any banks have submitted applications for cover to the Government insurance scheme for banks for expected bad debts.

Stephen Timms: The Government will publish further details of the Asset Protection Scheme by the last week of February.

Banks: Government Shareholding

Peter Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  on what dates  (a) ordinary and  (b) preference shares taken by the Government in (i) Lloyds Bank, (ii) HBOS and (iii) Royal Bank of Scotland were subscribed; what type of share was issued on each such date; and how much was paid for each type of share;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 587-8W, on Government shareholding, when copies of the placing and open offer agreements were placed in the Library;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 587-8W, on Government shareholding, where in the documents referred to in the answer information is provided on whether the non-payment of preference dividends by the board of directors would be treated as an act of default entitling the Government to initiate proceedings for the winding-up of the company;
	(4)  pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 587-8W, on Government shareholding, for what reasons he did not bring forward proposals to  (a) make the preference shares cumulative and  (b) adjust the coupon on the shares to a lower rate; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 587-8W, on Government shareholding, where in the documents referred to in the answer information is given on  (a) what happens if the board of directors decides to pass the preference dividends and  (b) whether the lost dividend will be recoverable for the public purse.

Angela Eagle: On 1 December 2008, the Government purchased both 22.8 billion RBS ordinary shares at 65.5p and five million RBS preference shares at £1,000 each. On 19 January 2009, the Government, in consultation with UKFI, agreed to convert the RBS preference shares, plus accrued coupon and underwriting fees, into ordinary shares. The Government will acquire those that are not bought by existing shareholders in the placing and open offer process. The placing price is 31.75p.
	As of 15 January 2009, immediately prior to the merger between Lloyds TSB and HBOS, the Government purchased 2.6 billion Lloyds TSB ordinary shares at £1.733 each and one million Lloyds TSB preference snares at £1,000 each, as well as 7.5 billion HBOS ordinary shares at £1.136 each and three million HBOS preference shares at £1,000 each.
	The final placing and open offer agreements have been in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament since 18 November 2008.
	Schedule 1 of the preference share agreements makes clear that if a dividend is not paid the preference share holders 'shall have no claim in respect of such non-payment'. It also makes clear that the shares are non-cumulative, and therefore lost dividend is not recoverable.
	The preference share dividend was required to be non-cumulative and discretionary to enable the investment to score as the best type of capital (tier one) and thereby to maximise the impact on financial stability.

Banks: Pay

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to  (a) prohibit the payment of bonuses to staff of those banks in which the Government has a majority stake and  (b) review the levels of remuneration packages awarded to those staff at the end of 2009.

Angela Eagle: As part of their investment, the Government have agreed a range of conditions with banks accessing the recapitalisation scheme, including restrictions on bonuses for senior executives—both for 2008 (when the Government expect no cash bonuses to be paid to board members) and for remuneration policy going forward, where incentive schemes will be reviewed and linked to long-term value creation, taking proper account of risk. In the future remuneration packages should reflect long-term sustainable success and not simply short-term gains.

Bradford and Bingley

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the decision to nationalise Bradford and Bingley was made.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer given to the hon. Member for Wyre Forest (Dr. Taylor) on 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 365W.

Housing Market: Regulation

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the status of the consultation on regulation by the Financial Services Authority of house sale and rent-back schemes is; and when a decision is expected.

Stephen Timms: On 6 February 2009, the Government published a consultation document, proposing that companies offering sale and rent-back agreements are brought within the scope of Financial Services Authority (FSA) regulation. The consultation will close on 1 May 2009. It is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_sale_rent.htm
	The FSA has published a separate consultation alongside on the detail of its proposed new regime, available at:
	http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Library/Policy/CP/2009/09_06.shtml

Income Tax

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the number of people who are worse off as a result of the abolition of the 10p rate of income tax; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: An assessment of the impact of the Budget 2007 personal tax changes, and the subsequent reforms made to income tax, were included in the 2008 pre Budget report at paragraph 5.10.

Members: Correspondence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 24 October 2008 from the hon. Member for North Norfolk.

Angela Eagle: Due to the large volume of correspondence received on these issues there has been a delay in sending some responses. The Financial Services Secretary hopes to be in a position to reply to the hon. Member shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 13 November 2008 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on NDFA investments via Lehman Brothers Treasury Company BV, Netherlands, PO reference: 1/63049/2008.

Ian Pearson: Due to the large volume of correspondence received on these issues there has been a delay in sending some responses. The Financial Services Secretary hopes to be in a position to reply to the hon. Member shortly.

Revenue and Customs: Buildings

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) display energy certificates and  (b) advisory reports in respect of each property occupied by HM Revenue and Customs.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs will place in the Library a copy of the display energy certificates and their associated advisory reports in respect of each property it occupies that requires a display energy certificate; that is, those of 1,000 square metres or above.

Revenue and Customs: Fines

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what administrative financial penalties may be levied by HM Revenue and Customs.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) administer almost 20 different taxes and duties and several other collection and payment regimes such as tax credits, national insurance and child benefit. All of the regimes make provision for administrative financial penalties to underpin compliance.
	Financial penalties are levied to address non-compliant behaviour in the following areas:
	Failure to notify taxable activity;
	Late filing or non-filing of returns;
	Late or non-payment of taxes, duties and national insurance contributions;
	Errors on returns due to negligence, carelessness or deliberate action;
	Failure to provide information or to make business premises and records available for inspection;
	Regime specific contraventions such as unauthorised issue of VAT invoices or unauthorised use of a customs warehouse.
	The numerous existing regime specific penalties are being replaced by a smaller number of new generic administrative financial penalties, with no penalty charged for mistakes where the taxpayer has taken reasonable care. Significant reductions will be available for those who make unprompted disclosures, with smaller reductions for prompted disclosures. Most penalties will be charged as a percentage of the tax under-declared.

Revenue and Customs: North West

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of redundancies arising from the proposed closure of the HM Revenue and Customs offices at  (a) Regian House, Liverpool,  (b) Dukes House, Southport and  (c) Birchen House, Birkenhead.

Stephen Timms: HMRC announced the planned closure of these three offices in February 2008. While we cannot rule out compulsory redundancies, our aim is to avoid them as far as is reasonably possible, and there have been none so far.
	We have set up implementation teams to consider when and how to implement closures and other office changes. They will seek a solution for each member of staff affected, with the first choice being to transfer to another HMRC office. The teams will consult with staff and local unions and advise and support managers and staff affected by planned closures.

Taxation: Personal Savings

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax has been repatriated to the UK by each country adopting the withholding tax option under the EU Savings Tax Directive.

Stephen Timms: The amounts of tax paid to the United Kingdom by those countries adopting withholding tax under the terms of the European savings directive or equivalent agreements with third party jurisdictions for the years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08 are set out in the following tables.
	The withholding tax regime is a transitional mechanism. The UK strongly supports, and is promoting internationally, transparency through exchange of information as the way forward in combating cross-border tax evasion.
	
		
			  UK tax year 2005-06, as at January 2009 
			   Amount of withholding tax 
			  Country  £  €  $  Swiss Frs 
			  EU member state 
			 Austria — 213,037.32 — — 
			 Belgium — 663,601.22 — — 
			 Luxembourg — 1,763,133.54 — — 
			  
			  Associated and dependent territories 
			 British Virgin Islands 429.17 0.79 — — 
			 Gibraltar 87,239.99 — — — 
			 Guernsey 2,330,160.03 27,547.26 184,144.79 18,646.36 
			 Isle of Man 6,393,423.50 — — — 
			 Jersey 5,513,642.44 101,054.29 922,165.96 815.70 
			 Netherlands Antilles 0 — — — 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands — — 2,773.51 — 
			  
			  Third party states 
			 Andorra — 58,692.81 — — 
			 Liechtenstein 59,246.58 — — — 
			 Monaco — 372,994.00 — — 
			 San Marino — 2,927.53 — — 
			 Switzerland — — — 12,965,211.70 
		
	
	
		
			  UK tax year 2006-07, as at January 2009 
			   Amount of withholding tax 
			  Country  £  €  $  Swiss Frs 
			  EU member state 
			 Austria — 716,410.86 — — 
			 Belgium — 1,621,577.96 — — 
			 Luxembourg — 3,868,148.76 — — 
			  
			  Associated and dependent territories 
			 British Virgin Islands 1,278.52 158.39 — — 
			 Gibraltar 421,984.11 — — — 
			 Guernsey 7,164,128.93 880,057.37 463,165.62 53,364.21 
			 Isle of Man 9,765,119.30 — — — 
			 Jersey 12,795,799.00 242,410.00 2,027,643.00 205.00 
			 Netherlands Antilles — —- — NA gld 1,121.59 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands — — 9,331.46 — 
			  
			  Third party states 
			 Andorra — — — — 
			 Liechtenstein — — — 371,593.84 
			 Monaco — 905,583.00 — — 
			 San Marino — 11,372.78 — — 
			 Switzerland — — — 12,983,994.17 
		
	
	
		
			  UK tax year 2007-08, as at January 2009 
			   Amount of withholding tax 
			  Country  £  €  $  Swiss Frs 
			  EU member state 
			 Austria — 1,086,497.75 — — 
			 Belgium — 2,224,448.73 — — 
			 Luxembourg — 3,812,286.91 — — 
			  
			  Associated and dependent territories 
			 British Virgin Islands — 1.47 3,748.23 1,397.87 
			 Gibraltar — — — — 
			 Guernsey 7,471,670.19 800,818.05 289,957.60 59,219.53 
			 Isle of Man 10,699,869.08 — — — 
			 Jersey 15,546,309.00 402,977.00 2,125,508.00 2,127.00 
			 Netherlands Antilles — — — NAgld 1,466.73 
			 Turks and Caicos Islands 4,972.36 — — — 
			  
			  Third party states 
			 Andorra — 200,492.80 — — 
			 Liechtenstein — — — 542,534.00 
			 Monaco — 1,067,492.00 — — 
			 San Marino 9,961.44 — — — 
			 Switzerland — — — 40,227,819.75

VAT: Channel Islands

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on value added tax (VAT) revenue of VAT-free goods coming through the Channel Islands into the UK in each of the last three financial years.

Stephen Timms: We estimate that the cost of the Low Value Consignment Relief on imports from the Channel Islands was around £70 million in 2006-07 and £80 million in 2007-08.
	Insufficient data are available to produce comparable estimates for the year 2005-06.

VAT: Channel Islands

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to prevent value added tax-free goods entering the UK from the Channel Islands.

Stephen Timms: Over the last three years the Government have worked with the authorities in Jersey and Guernsey to address this issue. As a result, and to avoid potential damage to their international reputation, the authorities in Jersey and Guernsey have taken a number of steps to restrain the exploitation of the low value consignment VAT relief by UK companies. These are set out in detail in my speech to the House on 27 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 275-76.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claimants resident in Hemel Hempstead were overpaid tax credits in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Estimates of the number of families with tax credit awards, including information on overpayments by constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, for the years 2003-04, 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 are available in the HMRC publications "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards. Supplement on Payments. Geographical Analyses", for each relevant year. These publications are available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	Estimates for 2007-08 are not yet available.

Working Tax Credit

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the likely annual cost to the public purse of extending the working tax credit scheme to 18 to 25-year-olds; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The annual cost of extending working tax credit to 18 to 25-year-olds is estimated to be around £285 million in 2009-10.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biodiversity: Departmental Coordination

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the January meeting of the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Biodiversity was postponed; how often meetings of the group are scheduled to be held; when the group's next meeting will be held; and what matters will be considered at that meeting.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The January meeting of the Inter Departmental Ministerial Group on biodiversity (IDMGb) was regrettably postponed because of a clash with other parliamentary business. However, the topics for discussion at the IDMGb were addressed over the subsequent week by correspondence between myself and the relevant Ministers from the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Gommonweath Office (FCO).
	Meetings of the IDMGb were originally intended to take place at intervals of six to nine months, but in practice have occurred less frequently, and more on the basis of clearly identified need. We are aiming to hold the next meeting in the spring, when the Government's proposed strategy for the conservation of biodiversity in the UK overseas territories will be discussed.

Farms: Inspections

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed to conduct farm inspections by each inspection body for which his Department is responsible in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The Veterinary Medicine Directorate employs five inspectors. This has been the case for the last five years.
	The Plant Health Seed Inspectorate year-end figures for the last five years are:
	
		
			  Year end March  Number 
			 2003-04 92 
			 2004-05 95 
			 2005-06 94 
			 2006-07 90 
			 2007-08 75 
		
	
	Over the past five years, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has employed between 265 and 278 (full-time equivalent) (FTE) inspectors to conduct a range of farm and trader inspections under Common Agricultural Policy and United Kingdom schemes. Most of these inspectors are multi-skilled, trained to conduct single payment scheme and cross-compliance inspections, including livestock identification inspections, as well as rural development scheme inspections on behalf of Natural England. The number of farm inspectors, on an FTE basis, employed by RPA at the end of each of the last five financial years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004-05 265 
			 2005-06 266 
			 2006-07 277 
			 2007-08 278 
			 December 2008 265 
		
	
	Central Science Laboratory's GM Inspectorate undertakes field inspection where consents for release of genetically modified organisms for research purposes have been granted by the Secretary of State under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the
	Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2002. Research
	trials may be carried out on premises such as private farms and research institutes.
	Details of full-time equivalent staff employed in the GM Inspectorate in each of the last five years are given in the table.
	
		
			   Full time equivalents 
			 2004-05 5.01 
			 2005-06 3.40 
			 2006-07 1.94 
			 2007-08 0.11 
			 2008-09 (1)0.33 
			 (1) To 31 November 2008 
		
	
	The number of staff employed by Animal Health who are available to carry-out inspections/visits are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2006 586 
			 2007 653 
			 2008 616 
		
	
	Please note these are a snap-shot at a given point in the year, figures are not available for 2004 (State Veterinary Service—Animal Health's predecessor—was part of DEFRA) and 2005.

Farms: Inspections

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were employed to conduct farm inspections by each inspection body which is the responsibility of his Department in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The Veterinary Medicine Directorate employs five inspectors. This has been the case for the last five years.
	The Plant Health Seed Inspectorate year-end figures for the last five years are:
	
		
			  Year end March  Number 
			 2003-04 92 
			 2004-05 95 
			 2005-06 94 
			 2006-07 90 
			 2007-08 75 
		
	
	Over the past five years, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has employed between 265 and 278 (full-time equivalent) (FTE) inspectors to conduct a range of farm and trader inspections under common agricultural policy and United Kingdom schemes. Most of these inspectors are multi-skilled, trained to conduct Single Payment Scheme and cross-compliance inspections, including livestock identification inspections, as well as rural development scheme inspections on behalf of Natural England. The number of farm inspectors, on an FTE basis, employed by RPA at the end of each of the last five financial years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004-05 265 
			 2005-06 266 
			 2006-07 277 
			 2007-08 278 
			 December 2008 265 
		
	
	Central Science Laboratory's GM Inspectorate undertakes field inspection where consents for release of genetically modified organisms for research purposes have been granted by the Secretary of State under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2002. Research trials may be carried out on premises such as private farms and research institutes.
	Details of full-time equivalent staff employed in the GM Inspectorate in each of the last five years are given as follows.
	
		
			   Full-time equivalents 
			 2004-05 5.01 
			 2005-06 3.40 
			 2006-07 1.94 
			 2007-08 0.11 
			 2008-09 (1)0.33 
			 (1) To 31 November 2008 
		
	
	The number of staff employed by Animal Health who are available to carry-out inspections/visits are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2006 586 
			 2007 653 
			 2008 616 
			  Note: These are a snap-shot at a given point in the year, figures are not available for 2004 (State Veterinary Service—Animal Health's predecessor—was part of DEFRA) and 2005.

Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors were considered before deciding not to include waste reduction through home composting in the landfill allowance trading scheme targets.

Jane Kennedy: A robust mechanism for determining the amount of waste diverted by home composting would be necessary to enable home composting to be included in the landfill allowance trading scheme. When the targets were set this was not available and that remains the case.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 853-854W, on waste disposal: fees and charges, which organisations are flagged as having an interest in the new charges for the collection of household waste on his Department's shared stakeholders database.

Jane Kennedy: The shared stakeholders database indicates the organisations from all interested sectors that responded to DEFRA's incentives for recycling by households consultation in May 2007.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the agreement between the International Security Assistance Force and the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan to be finalised; and what his assessment is of the effect of not having an agreement on on-going military and civilian operations in Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	While there is no specific agreement between the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL), ISAF has procedures in place to provide support to other international organisations including EUPOL if needed.
	EUPOL and ISAF continue to co-ordinate closely in theatre. Furthermore, there is much work involved in arranging technical arrangements between the two organisations, especially given that many ISAF members are contributing to EUPOL.
	Nevertheless, the UK continues to emphasise to EU member states and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies the importance of improved EU-NATO co-ordination.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which organisation has managed each project funded by his Department in Helmand province since 2005; what the budget of each was; how much has been spent in each case; what monitoring, impact assessments and evaluations have been undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave on 4 February 2009,  Official Report; column 1202W.

Military Aircraft: Training

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much training Royal Air Force  (a) navigators and  (b) flight engineers receive for their performance of those roles each year.

Bob Ainsworth: Aircrew are monitored for competency levels throughout their flying career and training continues for front-line aircrew after the initial award of Combat Ready status. The majority of flying training is achieved during routine flying hours and all flying tasks include an element of aircrew training; therefore it is not possible to show average flying training hours separately. All aircrew undertake regular periodic assessment by an appropriate examining body.
	Multi-engine aircraft, Hercules C130K, VC10, Sentry, Sentinel R1, Nimrod R1, Nimrod MR2, have both Weapons System Officers (Navigator) (WSO(Nav)) and Flight Engineers as part of their crew. Tristar aircraft have only Flight Engineers. Figures for the average hours of flying for crews of the Sentinel R1 aircraft are not provided as the aircraft came into service only in November 2008. All figures in the table have been rounded to the nearest five.
	
		
			  Type of aircraft  Average hours of flying for crews in financial year 2007-08 
			 Hercules C130K 305 
			 VC10 390 
			 Sentry 200 
			 Sentinel Rl (1)— 
			 Nimrod Rl 470 
			 Nimrod MR2 290 
			 Tristar 410 
			 (1) Not available. 
		
	
	Fast jet aircraft in the RAF fleet which have Navigators are shown in the following table. The allocated number of flying hours per crew flown in financial year 2007-08 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Type of aircraft  Allocated hours of flying for crews in financial year 2007-08 
			 Tornado GR4 210 
			 Tornado F3 210

Military Aircraft: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training sorties for the  (a) Hercules C-130,  (b) Tristar,  (c) VC-10 and  (d) C-17 Globemaster were cancelled in each of the last two years.

Bob Ainsworth: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Weapons

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Orion laser is capable of  (a) developing the nuclear warheads for the new generation of nuclear submarines and  (b) producing warheads compatible with future US-designed missiles.

Quentin Davies: In the nuclear test ban era, laser physics is one of the principal areas of research essential to underwrite the safety and reliability of the UK's nuclear warhead stockpile. High-powered lasers enable the replication in the laboratory of the physical conditions present in a nuclear detonation on a minute scale, over a tiny fraction of a second.
	The Atomic Weapons Establishment's HELEN laser has been operating for over 25 years and is now reaching the end of its technically useful working life. Its replacement, Orion, will enable us to continue to underwrite the safety and reliability of the Trident stockpile through the remainder of its service life.
	There is currently no programme to develop a new UK warhead, although decisions are likely to be necessary in the next Parliament.
	Whilst not specifically designed for the purpose, the Orion laser could have utility in any research employing laser physics in support of any possible future warhead design.

Warships

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1407W, on warships, what assessment the Royal Navy made of the merits of  (a) compiling a shortlist of tenderers for the contract entitled Vessel Requirement S&MO CB/3193 and  (b) inviting tenderers to visit the Falkland Islands to enable clear visibility of the requirement before being given the opportunity to revise or confirm any bid.

Quentin Davies: 13 companies submitted tenders for the provision of harbour support and coastal re-supply services to the Falkland Islands. In accordance with MOD and EU commercial regulations, as well as best practice, all tenders were evaluated against declared technical and commercial evaluation criteria. The three best tenders were subsequently short listed and these companies were offered the opportunity to visit the Falkland Islands but all three declined.

Warships

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1407W, on warships, what steps the Royal Navy took to assess tenderers for the contract entitled Vessel Requirement S&MO CB/3193 according to their understanding of the project requirement; what visits were made to the site for this purpose; and on what dates the requirement was discussed with the officer responsible for this operation.

Quentin Davies: Tenderers for the provision of harbour support and coastal re-supply services to the Falkland Islands were assessed against pre-determined technical and commercial evaluation criteria that were supplied to the companies when they were invited to bid for the requirement.
	The tender evaluation panel included personnel who have visited the Falkland Islands on a number of occasions and who have therefore built up a good working knowledge of the requirement. The views of MOD personnel based on the Islands, who are responsible for the day to day operation of the service, were also obtained.

Warships

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1407W, on warships, what plans the Royal Navy have to proceed with the award of the contract entitled Vessel Requirement S&MO CB/3193 to Van Wijingaarden Marine Services B.V.; and what account the Royal Navy has taken of the expert opinion on the suitability of the interim vessel delivered on 2 February.

Quentin Davies: The contract for the provision of harbour support and coastal re-supply services to the Falkland Islands was awarded to Van Wijingaarden Marine Services B.V. on 23 January 2009 and the service is due to commence on 1 April 2009. Under the contract, the company will provide a temporary vessel which will result in an acceptable provision of an interim service until the arrival of new permanent vessels which are in the process of being built. As was made clear to all bidders in clarification advice that was provided to them during the tendering process, MOD recognised that complete solutions may not be in place before the contract was awarded and that interim solutions would therefore be acceptable.
	A number of expert opinions, including from MOD personnel who are responsible for the day to day operation of the service, were sought about Van Wijingaarden's proposals for fulfilling the contract.

Warships

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1407W, on warships, for what reason the requirements of the Royal Navy contract entitled Specialist Vessel Requirement S&MO CB/3193 were changed to a tugging contract after the tender had been awarded.

Quentin Davies: The tugging elements of the requirement for the provision of harbour support and coastal re-supply services to the Falkland Islands have not changed since they were specified in the invitations to tender that were issued in October 2008.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Carbon Emissions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proposals for capture of carbon dioxide emissions the Government has approved in each of the last five years; what recent assessment he has made of the commercial viability of carbon capture technology; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 2 February 2009
	The Government fund projects on CO2 capture via the DIUS funded Research Council's Energy Programme and the Technology Strategy Board. In addition, DECC provides support via the Environmental Transformation Programme.
	The Research Councils support wide-ranging underpinning research and training in carbon capture and storage (CCS) through the Research Councils' Energy Programme and through their individual programmes. In the last five years 25 projects covering CCS totalling over £23 million have been funded, of which around 18 include C02 capture technologies. In addition CCS research is carried out at institutes and centres supported by the Research Councils, in particular NERC's British Geological Survey and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Fundamental research is also supported by the councils which may feed in over the longer term to CCS technologies.
	The TSB has identified carbon abatement technologies as a priority for funding and currently supports 11 projects with grant funding of £6.4 million, of which eight projects are specifically on capture technologies.
	DECC's ETF supports one oxy-fuel combustion project under the Carbon Abatement Technologies demonstration programme with grant funding of £2.2 million.
	There are three options for capturing carbon dioxide emissions; post-combustion, pre-combustion and oxy-fuel combustion. The Government have not undertaken a comparative assessment of the commercial viability of these options, although other organisations such McKinsey and Company have done some analysis
	http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/ccsi/pdf/CCS_Assessing_the_Economics.pdf.
	The Government support the demonstration of all these technology options globally to meet our objective for carbon capture and storage technology to become commercially viable by 2020.

Carbon Emissions: Standards

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans the Government has to meet the EU's 20 per cent. carbon dioxide emissions reduction target by 2020; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 9 February 2009
	The Climate Change Act 2008 puts in place a system of five-year carbon budgets that will set a legally binding limit on UK greenhouse gas emissions. Following advice from the Committee on Climate Change received in December 2008, the Government will set the levels of the first three carbon budgets, covering the period 2008 to 2022, by 1 June 2009. These must set with a view to complying with our European obligations, including the 2020 targets.
	As the Act requires, the Government will lay a report before Parliament setting out their proposals and policies for meeting the first three carbon budgets in mid-2009. A key instrument to reduce emissions will be the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The combination of a more ambitious, EU-wide cap on emissions with an annually declining trajectory to 2020 and beyond will ensure that emissions reductions from the EU ETS will correspond to approximately two thirds of the effort the EU will need to make to reach the 20 per cent. target by 2020.

Coal: Imports

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Castle Point of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 419W, on coal: imports, what estimate he has made of  (a) the amount of energy consumed and  (b) the volume of carbon dioxide emissions produced in transporting the coal imported into the UK in 2007.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 5 February 2009
	These estimates are not available. This is because we do not know all the details of the transport or other operations in the countries of origin, which will affect the energy consumed and hence the emissions.

Departmental Cost Effectiveness

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what efficiency savings have been made by his Department since its creation.

Mike O'Brien: As for all Departments, the Department of Energy and Climate Change will be required by HM Treasury under the terms of its comprehensive spending review 2007 settlement to deliver 5 per cent. per annum real efficiency savings in 2009-10 and 2010-11 compared to the baseline budget set for 2008-09. The administration budget for 2008-09 will be set in the upcoming spring supplementary estimate.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much capital expenditure has been brought forward in response to the economic downturn by his Department, agencies and non-departmental bodies to  (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11; from which years such expenditure has been brought forward; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department of Energy and Climate Change brought forward £50 million of capital expenditure on the Warm Front programme from 2010-11 into 2009-10 and received additional funding of £50 million for 2008-09 and £50 million for 2009-10, also on the Warm Front programme, to support the economy, as announced in the 2008 pre-Budget report.

Departmental Standards

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when his Department will establish a performance and efficiency programme.

Mike O'Brien: Establishing a performance and efficiency programme is a key priority for DECC for 2009-10. This will follow on from the completion of the business planning exercise currently being conducted following the agreement of DECC's budgets for the remainder of the comprehensive spending review (CSR) period.

Departmental Travel

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what expenditure his Department has incurred in providing transport for Ministers between Parliament and departmental premises since his Department was established.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 6W. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the "Ministerial Code".

Departmental Working Hours

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the policy of his Department is on granting staff time off in lieu for working  (a) in lunch breaks,  (b) in evenings and  (c) at other times outside contracted working hours; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has been formed by bringing together work previously covered by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The final details of staff transferring from these Departments are yet to be confirmed.
	However, it has not been the policy of these Departments to manage and monitor time off in lieu centrally. Authority is delegated to local line managers. The Department would incur a disproportionate cost if it were to manage this process centrally.

Energy Supply

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Library a copy of  (a) the agenda and  (b) the minutes of the meeting he held with the main energy supply companies on 17 November 2008.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 18 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 14-15WS in which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State reported to the House on the outcome of the 17 November meeting.

Energy: Billing

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department has taken to ensure that prepayment customers pay no more for their energy bills than those who are billed quarterly.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 3 February 2009
	Ofgem, the independent regulator, has investigated the charges for different payment methods made by supply companies as part of their recent probe into retail gas and electricity markets. It is now consulting publicly on remedies to prevent energy supply companies from charging unjustified premia for payment methods such as pre-payment meters. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for DECC has; already told the House that should a satisfactory and timely resolution of this issue not be reached by Ofgem and the companies, he will not hesitate to legislate.

Energy: Housing

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the effects of power line communications in the home, as used by smart meters, on shortwave radio users.

Mike O'Brien: The Department has not carried out such an assessment.
	As with all electrical and electronic products sold in the United Kingdom, Power Line Communications equipment is required to meet the relevant regulations before it can be placed on the market. In particular, it must comply with the Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2006 (the EMC Regulations). The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is responsible for the EMC Regulations. Enforcement powers are delegated to local Trading Standards offices and to Ofcom where there is a radio spectrum protection or management issue.
	The Government announced in October last year our intention to mandate the installation of smart meters in all households, with an indicative timetable of the end of 2020 for completion of the roll-out. Detailed work will be required on a range of issues, including communications technologies, in preparation for roll-out.

Energy: Meters

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to announce the public consultation on the roll-out of smart meters.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 10 February 2009
	The Government announced on 28 October last year that we will mandate the provision of smart meters to all households. We are currently considering a range of policy issues which need to be developed further in preparation for the roll out of smart meters. We will make further announcements on these issues and the next steps towards roll out when we are able to do so.

Energy: Prices

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will make arrangements for steel manufacturers to have access to energy supplies at sub-market prices.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has no plans to make arrangements for steel manufacturers to have access to energy supplies at sub-market prices.
	The UK has an energy market, regulated by Ofgem, who aim to ensure consumers benefit from energy prices set in a competitive market.

Environmental Transformation Fund

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much from the Environmental Transformation Fund has  (a) been allocated and  (b) disbursed since its inception; what criteria will be used to determine the disbursal of funds unallocated to date; when those funds will be allocated; whether such funds will be disbursed as grants; and through which bilateral and multilateral organisations such funding will be disbursed.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK (DFID and DECC) has allocated the full £800 million Environmental Transformation Fund to the World Bank administered Climate Investment Funds.
	The first instalment of funds (£100 million) will be disbursed to the Climate Investment Funds once the trust fund arrangement with the World Bank has been approved and signed by the UK (DFID and DECC).
	The World Bank Climate Investment Funds secretariat will draw down on the £100 million (and further disbursements from the £800 million) in accordance with a pre-agreed encashment schedule.
	The UK expects that up to 10 per cent. of the £800 million contribution to the fund will be disbursed as grants.
	The funds will be managed by the World Bank with individual programmes implemented through any one of the multilateral development banks. We expect UN agencies to participate as delivery agents in country.

Fuel Poverty: Expenditure

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the fund established to assist fuel poor individuals has been spent to date.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 18 December 2009
	The £1 billion Home Energy Saving Programme announced by the Prime Minister on 11 September 2008 included new obligations on energy suppliers and electricity generators to improve household energy efficiency (estimated to be worth around £910 million) and £90 million of additional Government funding (£74 million for the warm front scheme and £16 million for cold weather payments).
	From 1 October 2008 to 25 January 2009 the warm front scheme spent approximately £43 million (86 per cent.) of the extra £50 million provided for 2008-09. An estimated 5.8 million cold weather payments have been made this winter, totalling more than £145 million.
	Government will shortly be consulting on the detailed provisions of the new energy efficiency obligations on the energy suppliers and electricity generators.

Natural Gas: Asia

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking with his EU counterparts to develop the southern corridor for gas supplies from Central Asia.

Mike O'Brien: The EU has identified diversification of the sources of EU energy supply as a top priority. In this context, it identified the 'Southern Corridor' as a project of European interest in 2007, and appointed a European Co-ordinator. This commitment was underlined in the Commission's Second Strategic Energy Review of November 2008, which recognised the corridor as a priority project and proposed specific actions to aid its progress. At the Extraordinary Energy Council on 12 January 2009 member states again confirmed that diversification of routes and sources of supply must be a major criterion for selecting projects for European support. Additionally the Southern Corridor is a priority for the Czech presidency who will hold a high-level meeting on the subject in May.
	The UK fully supports the development of a southern corridor for gas and continues to actively engage with EU partners and countries in the region to help make the concept a reality. The UK will continue to underline its importance to European colleagues at this month's Energy Council, and future EU meetings, as well as continuing to work closely with supply countries in the region on a bi-lateral basis

Recycling: Oils

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to encourage the production of renewable fuels from recycled cooking oil using gravity separation and filtration techniques; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	The renewable transport fuel obligation requires suppliers of fossil fuel to ensure that a proportion of the fuel they supply is renewable fuel. Under the scheme biodiesel made from waste cooking oil is an eligible renewable fuel.
	The Renewable Fuel Agency administers the scheme and their January quarterly report summarises data on fuel supplied between April and October 2008. This report indicates that used cooking oil made up 3 per cent. (22 million litres) of the biofuel supplied over this period to meet the obligation. Their report is available on the RFA website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/

Serco

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the value was of his Department's contracts held with SERCO since his Department was established.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 10 February 2009
	The Department is not at present party to any contracts, as the Transfer of Function Order related to the creation of DECC has not yet come into force. Existing contracts related to energy and climate change matters will remain with BERR and Defra respectively until the Transfer of Function Order comes into force.

Street Lighting

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects Ofgem to make an announcement following its consideration of proposals for central monitoring systems for street lights.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 26 January 2009
	 In April 2008 Ofgem issued an open letter that sought views regarding whether it should seek to facilitate the development of Central Management Systems (CMS). Although there was substantial stakeholder engagement with the consultation, there was no clear consensus on whether there was a need for the changes proposed. I understand, therefore, that Ofgem is currently considering the way forward.

HEALTH

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) males and  (b) females aged (i) 18 years and more and (ii) 17 years and less were admitted to each hospital in England in each of the last five years with an alcohol-related reason for the admission, broken down by primary care trust.

Dawn Primarolo: Tables which give the numbers of alcohol-related finished admissions by primary care trust (PCT) of residence and health care provider for the years 2002-03 to 2006-07, broken down by age and sex have been placed in the Library. These are the last five years for which data are available.
	Some PCT boundaries changed between 2002-03 and 2003-04 and between 2005-06 and 2006-07.
	Separate breakdowns have been provided for PCT of residence and healthcare provider, rather than a combined breakdown, to reduce the amount of information that has to be suppressed to prevent the disclosure of personal information.

Alcoholism: Health Services

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to assess the effectiveness of alcohol rehabilitation services in each strategic health authority.

Dawn Primarolo: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts (PCTs), local social services authorities, and their partner agencies to estimate the level and nature of need for alcohol treatment services for their local populations and the effectiveness of the services that they commission to meet these needs, as part of local commissioning.
	From April 2008, a new indicator became part of both National Health Service Vital Signs and the National Indicator Set for Local Area Agreements. This measures change in the rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions and will help PCTs assess the effectiveness of the services that they are commissioning in relation to alcohol treatment. There are 99 PCTs and 76 local authorities which have included this indicator as one of their local priorities, setting out local targets and plans for reducing alcohol related hospital admissions.
	The Department's World Class Commissioning Programme will drive forward real improvements in how services (including alcohol treatment services) are commissioned resulting in tangible improvements in outcomes and patient experience.

Autism: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to address the needs of children with high levels of autistic traits in the North East.

Phil Hope: The Department is taking forward a programme of work to benefit children and adults with autistic spectrum conditions in all parts of the country, including the North East.
	The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services (NSF), published in 2004, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, included a series of exemplar patient journeys. These illustrated some of the key themes in the NSF and showed how some children and young people might access the services they need. One such exemplar covered children with autistic spectrum conditions.

Blood: Contamination

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff Central of 30 June 2008,  Official Report, column 652W, on blood products, if he will disclose the 35 documents wholly or partly withheld by his Department which relate to the infection of haemophiliacs by contaminated blood products.

Dawn Primarolo: These 35 documents were the only papers out of some 4,500 that were, after careful consideration, withheld under an exemption in the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The exemptions that applied are:
	Section 38—Health and Safety—10 documents or part documents;
	Section 40—Personal information—nine documents or part documents;
	Section 42—Legal professional privilege—nine documents or part documents; and
	Section 43—Commercial interests—seven documents or part documents.
	For the avoidance of any continuing doubt in this matter, and given the time that has now elapsed, I have asked the Department's officials to review the seven documents withheld under Section 43 (Commercial interests), to see if there is another way that this information can be placed in the public domain.
	In relation to the other three categories, these documents have been withheld for reasons that are clearly provided for within the FOI Act, and not in any way to withhold relevant information on the subject of contamination of blood and blood products.

Blood: Diseases

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will include provisions for care for Thalassaemia within his Department's standards for clinical care.

Ann Keen: The UK Thalassaemia Society produced, "Standards for the Clinical Care of Children and Adults with Thalassaemia in the UK" in June 2005 and updated them in October 2008.
	The Department supports this document and encourages the national health service to use it.

Cancer: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government has taken to improve provision of the cancer services in Coventry.

Ann Keen: The Cancer Reform Strategy, published in December 2007, sets out guidance to the local national health service on how to improve cancer prevention, speed up the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, reduce inequalities, improve the experience of people living with and beyond cancer, ensure care is delivered in the most appropriate settings and ensure patients can access effective new treatments quickly. A copy of the strategy has already been placed in the Library. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to use the funds made available to them and work in partnership with strategic health authorities, local services, cancer networks and other local stakeholders to deliver these aims. Information on the work being done in the Coventry area can be obtained direct from Coventry Teaching PCT.
	Through the Cancer Reform Strategy's National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative, the Department, in partnership with Cancer Research UK, is co-ordinating a programme to support local interventions to increase cancer symptom awareness, and encourage people to seek help early.

Cardiovascular System: Screening

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to extend the vascular checks programme beyond GP surgeries;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the merits of carrying out vascular risk assessments and measurements in the workplace as part of the health, work and well-being strategy;
	(3)  in what setting vascular risk assessments and measurements will be provided for people between the ages of 40 and 74 years.

Ann Keen: The vascular checks programme has been designed to be undertaken in a variety of settings to ensure that those who are not regularly in touch with formal health care can access the programme. Primary care trusts will commission the programme to reflect the needs of their population and how they access services. Primary care trusts may, therefore, commission the service from general practitioners, pharmacies or other providers which their target group access. This could include running the programme in a workplace setting.

Cardiovascular System: Screening

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how people aged between 40 and 74 years old will be notified that they are eligible for vascular risk assessments and measurements.

Ann Keen: As part of preparing primary care trusts for implementation, the Department will make available a standard invitation letter and leaflet about the vascular checks programme. Until the national call and recall system is developed, primary care trusts will decide locally who and how to call people first. Current vascular checks type activity across the country suggests that for some populations other methods of invitation e.g. through telephone calls generate a better take up. Working through NHS Improvement, we are making available learning on this and other aspects of the programme across the country. Once the call and recall system is developed, people will recalled every five years for their check.

Cardiovascular System: Screening

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department plans to take to measure the level of uptake of vascular risk assessment and measurements amongst people between the ages of 40 to 74 years;
	(2)  whether all primary care trusts in England will be required to implement the vascular checks programme from 1 April 2009.

Ann Keen: Many primary care trusts, especially in spearhead areas, already have vascular checks type programmes in place. The implementation of the vascular checks programme will be phased during 2009-10. All primary care trusts will be expected to have undertaken some activity to support the programme during this period. We are working with strategic health authorities to ensure all primary care trusts implement the programme. We are developing an evaluation strategy that will provide information on the rate and mode of implementation. As part of the evaluation, we will look at uptake amongst groups less likely to participate in the programme and those particularly likely to benefit since they are inherently likely to be at higher risk. These groups will vary from primary care trusts to primary care trusts.

Cardiovascular System: Screening

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking in the implementation of the vascular checks programme  (a) to ensure that hard-to-reach groups receive checks and  (b) to evaluate uptake among these groups;
	(2)  what role the vascular checks programme will have in reducing health inequalities; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The vascular checks programme has the potential to reduce health inequalities and has been designed to form part of the Department's overall programme for tackling them. The assessment element of the programme has been designed to be undertaken in a variety of settings to help to ensure that everyone who is eligible can access the programme. In November 2008 the Department issued guidance to primary care trusts Next Steps' guidance for Primary Care Trusts which underlines the need for them to commission a programme that tackles and reduces health inequalities. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of care home residents were asked to pay a top-up fee in  (a) Eastbourne,  (b) East Sussex and  (c) England in each year since 2004.

Phil Hope: Information about top-up fees is not collected centrally. However, according to the Office of Fair Trading report, "Survey of Older People in Care Homes", published in May 2005, 33 per cent. of the 382 United Kingdom local authority funded residents interviewed said part of their fees were paid as a third party contribution or top-up.

Care Homes: Standards

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of care homes did not meet each of the National Minimum Standards for care homes in the year ended 31 March 2008.

Phil Hope: I am informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that its inspectors assess the performance of care homes against each national minimum standard (NMS) and rate them on a four-point scale. A score of 4 indicates that a standard has been exceeded. A score of 3 shows that it has been met. A score of 2 denotes that the standard has not been met with minor shortfalls—this indicates that one of the numerous subsections in the standard has not been completely met. A score of 1 means the standard has not been met.
	The following tables show the scores of care homes against the NMS for care homes for younger adults and older people, broken down by number and percentage, for the year ending 31 March 2008.
	
		
			  Scores against NMS for care homes for younger adults as at 31 March 2008( 1) 
			   Score1  Standard not met  Score-2  Standard not met with minor shortfalls  Score-3  Standard met  Score-4  Standard exceeded 
			  NMS heading  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Information 123 2 1,403 20 5,125 73 349 5 
			 Needs assessment 73 1 567 8 6,175 83 668 9 
			 Meeting needs 139 2 599 9 5,487 84 297 5 
			 Introductory visits 35 1 200 3 5,985 91 359 5 
			 Contract 195 3 1,161 17 5,148 78 131 2 
			 Service user plan 162 2 1,716 23 4,567 61 1,074 14 
			 Decision making 57 1 614 8 5,939 79 907 12 
			 Participation 55 1 533 8 5,436 83 505 8 
			 Risk taking 116 2 1,160 15 5,561 74 677 9 
			 Confidentiality 53 1 507 8 5,633 90 96 2 
			 Personal development 62 1 420 6 5,337 82 682 10 
			 Education and occupation 40 1 567 8 5,670 75 1,234 16 
			 Community links and social inclusion 45 1 491 7 5,915 79 1,064 14 
			 Leisure 72 1 676 10 5,145 75 948 14 
			 Relationships 4 0 158 2 6,560 87 782 10 
			 Daily routines 38 1 382 5 6,186 82 895 12 
			 Meals and mealtimes 43 1 564 8 6,167 82 733 10 
			 Personal support 43 1 451 6 6,155 82 868 12 
			 Healthcare 55 1 711 9 5,898 78 856 11 
			 Medication 160 2 1,865 25 5,193 69 299 4 
			 Ageing and death 76 1 686 12 4,901 83 259 4 
			 Concerns and complaints 31 0 701 9 6,427 85 367 5 
			 Protection 146 2 1,229 16 5,839 78 312 4 
			 Premises 207 3 1,947 26 4,714 63 669 9 
			 Space requirements 55 1 456 7 5,748 87 381 6 
			 Furniture and fittings 84 1 878 13 5,355 80 336 5 
			 Toilets and bathrooms 170 3 1,072 16 5,123 77 266 4 
			 Shared space 74 1 733 11 5,469 83 338 5 
			 Adaptations and equipment 92 1 616 10 5,255 85 189 3 
			 Hygeine and control of infection 68 1 841 11 6,161 82 462 6 
			 Roles 78 1 459 7 5,621 90 120 2 
			 Qualities and qualifications 79 1 1,109 15 5,486 73 796 11 
			 Staff team 228 3 1,373 20 4,951 72 289 4 
			 Recruitment 257 3 1,288 17 5,567 75 340 5 
			 Training and development 130 2 1,470 20 5,239 70 624 8 
			 Supervision and support 179 3 1,211 18 5,046 75 312 5 
			 Day to day operations 152 2 1,273 17 5,231 70 863 11 
			 Ethos 109 2 434 7 5,176 81 679 11 
			 Quality assurance 177 2 1,657 22 5,061 67 603 8 
			 Policies and procedures 106 2 1,193 19 4,891 78 87 1 
			 Record keeping 223 3 1,629 26 4,423 69 103 2 
			 Safe working practices 182 2 1,843 25 5,185 69 302 4 
			 Conduct of the service 182 3 964 16 4,783 80 70 1 
			 (1) Data shown are for care homes which were active at 31 March 2008 and had been inspected against the NMS for care homes for younger adults at some point prior.  Note: Percentage scores are rounded to the nearest whole percentage point.  Source: CSCI database. 
		
	
	
		
			  Scores against NMS for care homes for older people as at 31 March 2008( 1) 
			   Score-1  Standard not met  Score-2  Standard not met with minor shortfalls  Score-3  Standard met  Score-4  Standard exceeded 
			  NMS heading  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 Information 198 2 1,778 18 7,362 76 380 4 
			 Contract 136 1 1,269 14 7,720 84 115 1 
			 Needs assessment 138 1 1,079 10 8,466 82 670 6 
			 Meeting needs 257 3 1,171 13 7,230 80 336 4 
			 Trial visits 18 0 218 2 8,503 95 211 2 
			 Intermediate care 80 4 157 7 1,798 84 101 5 
			 Service user plan 367 4 3,541 34 5,691 55 782 8 
			 Healthcare 186 2 1,551 15 7,760 75 882 8 
			 Medication 415 4 3,044 29 6,665 64 250 2 
			 Privacy and dignity 87 1 860 8 8,566 83 854 8 
			 Dying and death 64 1 867 10 7,214 84 481 6 
			 Social contact and activities 178 2 2,194 21 6,452 62 1,557 15 
			 Community contact 6 0 246 2 9,157 88 962 9 
			 Autonomy and choice 55 1 808 8 8,692 84 813 8 
			 Meals and mealtimes 83 1 1,205 12 7,718 74 1,371 13 
			 Complaints 89 1 920 9 8,983 87 390 4 
			 Rights 34 0 273 3 7,975 96 49 1 
			 Protection 203 2 1,597 15 8,316 80 264 3 
			 Premises 264 3 2,532 24 6,530 63 1,057 10 
			 Shared facilities 106 1 1,051 11 7,421 81 601 7 
			 Lavatories and washing facilities 242 3 1,695 19 6,866 75 359 4 
			 Adaptations and equipment 212 2 1,703 19 6,910 76 232 3 
			 Space requirements 54 1 604 7 7,839 88 403 5 
			 Furniture and fittings 133 1 1,659 18 7,010 75 493 5 
			 Heating and lighting 305 3 1,917 21 6,679 73 255 3 
			 Hygiene and infection control 169 2 1,694 16 7,693 74 822 8 
			 Staff complement 273 3 1,636 16 7,950 77 519 5 
			 Qualifications 100 1 1,510 15 7,456 72 1,236 12 
			 Recruitment 473 5 2,064 20 7,478 72 350 3 
			 Staff training 249 2 2,197 21 7,087 68 835 8 
			 Day to day operations 284 3 1,663 16 7,176 69 1,249 12 
			 Ethos 199 2 842 9 6,959 78 945 11 
			 Quality assurance 287 3 2,193 21 7,017 68 858 8 
			 Financial procedures 172 2 769 9 7,108 88 63 1 
			 Service user money 70 1 649 6 9,255 91 192 2 
			 Staff supervision 443 5 2,494 26 6,345 67 192 2 
			 Record keeping 440 5 2,559 29 5,789 65 116 1 
			 Safe working practices 386 4 2,703 26 6,878 66 415 4 
			 (1) Data shown are for care homes which were active at 31 March 2008 and had been inspected against the NMS for care homes for older people at some point prior.  Note: Percentage scores are rounded to the nearest whole percentage point.  Source: CSCI database.

Carers

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many carers in each county were  (a) offered and  (b) provided with an assessment of their needs in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.

Phil Hope: The NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care collects and publishes information on the number of carers offered and receiving assessments or reviews from Councils with Adult Social Services Responsibilities (CASSRs). Data are not collected on a county basis.
	Data for assessments only are not collected centrally. A table which shows how many carers have been offered an assessment or review of their needs and how many carers, by CASSRs, have had an assessment of their needs from 2005-06 to 2007-08 has been placed in the Library.

Charity Research Support Fund

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the effectiveness of the formula used to distribute funds from the Charity Research Support Fund.

David Lammy: I have been asked to reply.
	The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) provides a Quality Related (QR) block grant for research to higher education institutions in England. The QR grant is determined by adding together a number of elements. The "charity support element" is calculated by reference to institutions' levels of charitable research income. The funding that arises from this calculation is distributed to institutions within their overall QR block grant rather than as a separate fund. The detail of the QR formula is for HEFCE to determine.

Childbirth

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the risks of caesarean section delivery for  (a) all women and  (b) obese women;
	(2)  how many women with a body mass index greater than 30 have received  (a) elective and  (b) emergency caesarean section operations in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: The most recent assessment of the risks of caesarean sections was set out in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on caesarean section, published in 2004. The guidance does not suggest significantly greater risk for obese patients although it should be recognised that surgery generally carries greater risk for obese women. We do not collect centrally any statistics on the body mass index of patients undergoing different procedures .
	The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health are currently undertaking a project (2008-10) which will cover all maternity units in the United Kingdom. It includes:
	a national survey of maternity services for women with obesity;
	the development of consensus standards for care; and
	a national audit to:
	1. determine prevalence of maternal obesity (BMI greater than 35) and
	2. assess maternity care against consensus standards.

Dementia

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with dementia in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) the Tees Valley and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Phil Hope: The Department does not have information on the number of people who have been diagnosed with dementia. However, the Dementia UK report, published in 2007 by the Alzheimer's Society, estimated that there are currently around 570,000 people in England.
	The General Practitioner Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) for England has recorded the number of people with a diagnosis of dementia but this is available for only 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	We are unable to supply information for all the areas requested as some are not health areas. Where this occurs we have supplied information for the health areas that best fit those requested.
	The figures are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  2007-08  2006-07 
			 Stockton on Tees Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT)(1) 745 737 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 487 524 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 629 575 
			 North East Strategic Health Authority 12,420 12,128 
			 (1) This PCT was formerly known as North Tees.

Dental Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) name and  (b) postcode location of each NHS dentist listed on the NHS choices website is.

Ann Keen: The NHS Choices service, launched in June 2007, is the Department's and National Health Service's primary online service to the public for health related information and advice. All data records published via NHS Choices, including 7,685 NHS Dentists with their contact details and location, are freely available to the public via the NHS Choices website at:
	www.nhs.uk.
	The name and postcode location of each NHS dentist listed on NHS Choices has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Foreign Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) EU foreign nationals and  (b) non-EU foreign nationals are employed by his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: A full identity and nationality check is carried out using documentary evidence prior to all appointments to the Department. A record of nationality is kept on individuals' hard-copy personnel files. The level of detail recorded on our central human resource information system is not sufficient to answer this question and it would involve disproportionate costs to examine all relevant individual files.

Departmental Lobbying

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Ministers in his Department received representations from  (a) Lord Moonie,  (b) Lord Taylor of Blackburn,  (c) Lord Snape and  (d) Lord Truscott in the last seven months.

Ben Bradshaw: No.

Departmental Recruitment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new recruits his Department took on in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07,  (c) 2007-08 and  (d) 2008-09, how many of these were taken on as (i) permanent, (ii) temporary and (iii) agency staff, and what estimate he has made of the equivalent figures for (A) 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11.

Ben Bradshaw: The following table shows the total number of civil servants recruited to the Department in the years from 2005-06 to 2007-08. This information is taken from the published annual departmental reports. Information about the number of recruits who were temporary civil servants is not held in a way that can be used to address the question. Information from the Department's human resources (HR) system shows that 201 civil servants have been employed in 2008-09 as at 31 December 2008, of which 36 were temporary.
	
		
			  Financial year  All civil servants employed by Department 
			 2007-08 175 
			 2006-07 108 
			 2005-06 162 
		
	
	Prior to 2008, the quality and coverage of information held centrally by the Department on the agency workers it engages was limited and unreliable. With the introduction of a new HR database, our recording has improved, and so far, in 2008-09 the Department has engaged 108 agency workers.
	The Department is currently mid way through its business planning for 2009-11 and therefore cannot provide an estimate of likely recruitment for 2009-10 and 2010-11.

Diabetes: Children

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under the age of 16 years have been diagnosed with diabetes in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) the Tees Valley and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Data for the number of children of school age diagnosed with diabetes are not available. However, estimates suggest there are some 20,000 children with diabetes in England (the vast majority type 1 diabetes), and some experts suggest that there may be up to 1,000 children with type 2 diabetes in England.

Doctors: Foreign Workers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of (i) hospital doctors and (ii) general practitioners working in the NHS who were non-UK nationals in the latest year for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Nationality of national health service staff is not collected centrally. The following table shows the number and proportion of hospital doctors and general practitioners (GPs) by country of primary qualification.
	
		
			  General practitioners and hospital and community health services (HCHS): medical and dental staff by country of primary qualification, England at 30 Sept  ember 2007 
			  Number (headcount) and percentage 
			   All NHS doctors  HCHS medical and dental staff( 1)  General practitioners 
			 All Countries of Qualification 128,210 91,790 36,420 
			 All Countries of Qualification (excluding unknown staff) 123,802 87,850 35,952 
			 
			 Qualified in United Kingdom 82,957 54,978 27,979 
			 Percentage(2) 67 63 78 
			 
			 Qualified outside UK 40,845 32,872 7,973 
			 Percentage(2) 33 37 22 
			 
			 Unknown(3) 4,408 3,940 468 
			 (1) Excludes medical hospital practitioners and medical clinical assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospitals. (2) This is a percentage of the total staff whose country of primary qualification is known. (3) All dental staff are shown as unknown within the table. Information about country of qualification is derived from the General Medical Council. For staff in dental specialties, with a General Dental Council registration, the country of qualification is therefore unknown.  Data Quality: Work force statistics are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens, any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is significant at national level, they will not be changed. Where there is impact only at detailed or local level, this will be footnoted in relevant analyses.  Sources: The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census. The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics.

Doctors: Pakistan

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors from Pakistan attached to the NHS are  (a) studying for post-graduate medical qualifications and  (b) undertaking further training of another kind.

Ann Keen: The Department does not collect work force information by nationality. Information on doctors undertaking post-graduate study and working in equivalent grades in the national health service is available by country of primary medical qualification.
	The following table sets out the number of doctors undertaking post-graduate study or working in equivalent grades, who gained their primary medical qualification in Pakistan, as at 30 September 2007.
	
		
			  All Doctors in training( 1)  and GP registrars by specified country of qualification( 2,3)  in England as at 30 September 2007, England 
			  Number (headcount) 
			   Total headcount  O f which:  o btained primary medical qualification in Pakistan( 2,3) 
			 Total 49,274 1,855 
			
			 Doctors in training(1,2) 46,783 1,758 
			 GP registrars(3) 2,491 97 
			 (1) Doctors in training and Equivalents is the term used to refer to people in the registrar group, senior house officers, house officers and other staff in equivalent grades who are not in an educationally approved post. (2) Information about country of qualification is derived from the General Medical Council. For staff in dental specialties, with a General Dental Council registration, the country of qualification is therefore unknown. Out of 45,855 doctors in training whose country of primary medical qualification is known, 1,758 qualified in Pakistan. (3) In the 2007 GP Census return, 468 GP Registrars had no country of qualification data, this must be taken into consideration when analysing the above figures. Out of 2,023 whose country of primary medical qualification was known, 97 qualified in Pakistan.  Notes: 1. The Medical and Dental census and the GP census can only identify the two groups shown here as doctors who are undertaking post-graduate study and qualifications. 2. Data on nationality or country of origin are not available on the work force census. The data displayed here shows the country where a doctor received their primary medical qualification—which is not an indicator of country of origin or nationality. 3. Data Quality: Work force statistics are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is significant at national level they will not be changed. Where there is impact only at detailed or local level this will be footnoted in relevant analyses.  Sources: The Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Doctors: Working Hours

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what projections his Department has made of the number of doctors at each grade that will be needed to enable compliance with the European Working Time Directive in each of the next 10 years.

Ann Keen: Local national health service organisations are best placed to assess the health needs of their local health community and plan the workforce they need.
	It is for local NHS organisations to analyse their local workforce needs and develop plans, in liaison with commissioners, providers and service users, to deliver high quality, safe services and take action to secure the appropriate staff and skills to deliver these services.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisoners have  (a) been treated and  (b) successfully completed a course for drug addiction using subutex in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: Specific information on the use of buprenorphine in prison and prisoners who have successfully completed a course for drug addiction using subutex in each of the last five years is not collected centrally.

Head Lice: Schools

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of trends in the incidence of cases of nits in primary school children in the last five years.

Ann Keen: Information on the incidence of head louse infestation is not collected centrally. Our policy, which is shared by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, is to encourage a 'whole school approach'. This entails encouraging parents to check their children and other family members for head lice as need arises and arranging treatment where necessary, with advice and support from the local primary health care team. We have no plans to reintroduce regular inspections in schools.
	The Department has produced a leaflet containing guidance on the prevention and treatment of head lice. The leaflet is widely available from locations that include schools and general practitioner surgeries and on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/ll/63/47/04116347.pdf
	A copy of the leaflet has been placed in the Library.

Health Services

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has  (a) taken steps to meet the and  (b) issued guidance to NHS trusts on meeting needs of adult patients who are in the (i) highest and (ii) lowest decile of body height; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department has not taken specific steps regarding patients who are in the highest or lowest decile of body height. On 30 June 2008, my noble Friend Lord Darzi, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, launched "High Quality Care for All: NHS Next Stage Review final report", which makes clear that the NHS must meet the needs of all patients and to pay particular attention to groups or sections of society where improvements in health and life expectancy are not keeping pace with the rest of the population. A copy of the report has already been placed in the Library.

Health Services: Learning Disability

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department takes to prevent discrimination in the NHS against patients with learning difficulties.

Phil Hope: On 19 January 2009, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health published "Valuing People Now"—a new three-year cross-government strategy for people with learning disabilities. A copy has already been placed in the Library. It encompasses the Department's response to the key recommendations of "Healthcare for All"—the report of the Independent Inquiry chaired by Sir Jonathan Michael (DH, 2008)—and affirms that access to high quality health care is a right, and is essential in enabling people to lead healthy, active and fulfilling lives that are free from discrimination.
	We will be establishing a time-limited Confidential Inquiry (CI) to investigate premature deaths of people with learning disabilities. This will help improve the clinical evidence-base that should underpin commissioning of local services. We are developing a specification for the CI and we expect to invite proposals from potential organisations in the coming months.
	We will also establish a public health observatory to provide essential information at national and local level. This responds to the call for improved data, so that the national health service can target action to support people to have better health. It will support primary care trusts in assessing the needs of people with learning disabilities in their local population, assessing how these needs are being met and to understand comparative health outcomes for people with learning disabilities.
	The Government accept the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry. We are now taking action that will lead to people with learning disabilities getting the equal access to health care that they deserve. The NHS is already improving the health of people with learning disabilities, for example, through establishing health checks and improving training.
	"Valuing People Now" is supported by existing legislation. The Disability Discrimination Act (1995) places a legal responsibility on all health and social care organisations not to discriminate against disabled people or provide them with a poorer quality of service.

Health Services: Sexual Offences

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government have taken to improve the provision of health services to victims of sexual crime in the West Midlands.

Ann Keen: The Department is working with the Home Office to deliver the Response to Sexual Violence Programme. The aim is to set up more sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) in line with the Home Secretary's commitment to increasing provision to one per police force area. SARCs are intended to provide a holistic service for the victims of sexual assaults, including meeting the victim's clinical needs as well as a forensic examination, counselling and the opportunity to give evidence anonymously.
	Within the West Midlands area, there is already a SARC in Walsall. A second facility has also been approved, which will be located in Birmingham.

Hospital Beds: Elderly

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the supply of beds in hospital for elderly patients in North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: No assessment has been made of the adequacy of the supply of beds in hospital for elderly patients in North Yorkshire. It is the responsibility of the national health service locally to ensure that there are appropriate resources to enable all patients to be cared for in an appropriate clinical environment.
	The Department's "National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People" published in 2001 sets out a 10-year strategy to improve services for older people, in all settings including hospital. A copy of the framework has already been placed in the Library.
	One of the key aims of the NSF is to ensure that older people are never unfairly discriminated against in accessing NHS or social care. The NHS makes it clear that NHS services should be provided, regardless of age, on the basis of clinical need alone.
	In addition, the NHS constitution makes it clear that people will have the right not to be unlawfully discriminated against on the grounds of age once the Equality Bill comes into force.

Hospitals: Food

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to the NHS on protected meal times for patients.

Ann Keen: The Department has not issued any guidance to the NHS on protected meal times for patients.
	The protected mealtimes initiative (PMI) was introduced by NHS Estates in partnership with the Royal College of Nursing in 2004, as part of the Better Hospital Food programme. When NHS Estates closed in September 2005, lead responsibility for the protected mealtimes initiative passed to the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA).
	The NPSA has been working with key stakeholders in the development of a toolkit to assist NHS organisations in the implementation of the '10 Key Characteristics of Good Nutritional Care'. A factsheet relating to protected mealtimes was developed and launched in April 2008 and the NPSA will be launching the complete toolkit later this year.

Hospitals: Food

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid to the Chair of the Better Hospital Food Panel in each year since 2001.

Ann Keen: The chairman of the Better Hospital Food panel received no remuneration. There were no recruitment costs incurred in the appointment.

Hospitals: Hygiene

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were dismissed from NHS hospitals in 2008 for failing to follow hygiene procedures.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.

Learning Disability: North East

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in  (a) the North East,  (b) the Tees Valley and  (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency have learning difficulties; and what special measures are in place to address this.

Phil Hope: This information is not collected centrally.
	Local authorities hold information relating to people with learning disabilities in their area who are assessed for support or receiving services. General practitioner practices are also encouraged to register people with learning disabilities and provide them with annual health checks.
	It is the responsibility of local authorities in partnership with primary care trusts to ensure support and services are in place to meet the assessed needs of people with learning disabilities.

Medical Records

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what arrangements are in place for ensuring that a patient's medical records are accurate; and who is responsible for ensuring such accuracy;
	(2)  what his policy is on the frequency with which audits of patient data collections should be undertaken; what his most recent assessment is of the  (a) security and  (b) accuracy of patient data; how much was spent on auditing data collections in the last year for which figures are available; and what plans he has to review (i) procedures for and (ii) expenditure on audit of data collections;
	(3)  which  (a) organisations and  (b) staff are responsible for auditing medical records in order to ensure that they are (i) secure and (ii) accurate.

Ben Bradshaw: As independent statutory bodies, each national health service organisation is responsible for ensuring that the information recorded in a patient's medical record is accurate, up to date and secure. All individuals who work in the NHS are responsible for any records which they create or use in the performance of their duties. This is in line with data protection legislation and guidance provided by the Department and professional bodies. David Nicholson the NHS Chief Executive has also written to all NHS Chief Executives to remind them of their responsibility for assessing risk to information and ensuring it is secure.
	It is the responsibility of the management of each organisation to establish and implement procedures which ensure the accuracy and security of records. These procedures may include both internal and external audits of records. It is down to each individual NHS organisation to decide upon the frequency of such audits. There are also independent bodies who have powers to inspect and audit NHS records, and it is a matter for these independent bodies to determine the frequency of these inspections to whom they apply.
	The Department does not collect information on the costs involved in auditing all data collections that occur within the NHS.

Mental Health Services: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government has taken to improve the provision of mental health services in Coventry.

Phil Hope: The "National Service Framework for Mental Health" (NSF), published in September 1999, established a 10-year programme of reform, to improve provision of mental health services in England, including Coventry. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library.
	The NSF was followed in 2000 by the NHS Plan. This identified mental health as one of the clinical priorities of the national health service and set precise and challenging targets for mental health services nationally.
	The Mental Health Act 2007 makes a range of important changes to existing legislation to modernise and improve it in line with developments in practice. For example, the ability to provide intensive support in the community through the specialist community teams to strengthen patient safeguards and to remedy incompatibilities with the European Convention on Human Rights. The majority of its changes came into force on 3 November 2008.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Bill Etherington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he plans to take to improve services for young people who require  (a) mental health support,  (b) bereavement counselling and  (c) individual counselling in the North East;
	(2)  what the average waiting time for young people to obtain  (a) mental health support services,  (b) bereavement counselling and  (c) individual counselling services was in the North East in the latest period for which information is available.

Phil Hope: Data on average waiting times for young people to obtain mental health support services, bereavement counselling and individual counselling services in the North East are not collected centrally.
	Counselling is one of the modalities of psychological intervention approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for treating depression and anxiety disorders. Other NICE approved psychological therapies include guided self-help, computerised cognitive behavioural therapy, behavioural activation and exercise. The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Programme aims to help primary care trusts (PCTs) to implement NICE guidelines and improve access to psychological therapies in England for people with depression or anxiety disorders. This is supported by a significant national investment rising to £173 million by 2010-11. Its aim is to train 3,600 more therapists who will help to provide 900,000 more people with access to psychological therapies by 2010-11.
	In addition, 11 pathfinder PCTs are now examining the needs of specific groups, including children and young people, new mothers, older people, black and minority ethnic groups, offenders, people with long-term conditions and those with medically unexplained symptoms, to see how access to a range of therapies for these groups could be further improved.
	For more general information on the Government's plans to improve services for young people who require mental health support, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 16 December 2008,  Official Report, column 683W, for details of the Government's response to the recently published independent Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Review.

Mesothelioma

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the implications of the findings of the  (a) MS101 trial,  (b) MALCS study,  (c) MARS study and  (d) VATS study for treatment of mesothelioma; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The results of all trials relating to mesothelioma will be discussed, when available, by the Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Advisory Group, chaired by the National Cancer Director, Professor Mike Richards.

Midwives: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwives worked in the NHS in each year since 1997; and how many worked in each NHS organisation in each of the last three years.

Ann Keen: The information is contained in the tables that have been placed in the Library.

NHS Direct

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of calls to NHS Direct were referred to  (a) 999,  (b) accident and emergency,  (c) an out-of-hours GP service,  (d) self-care,  (e) pharmacy and  (f) another service in each quarter since January 2003.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following tables. These data include all calls to the 0845 46 47 line and other calls to services provided to national and local commissioners, including calls to The Appointments Line and locally commissioned services such as dental and out-of-hours services.
	NHS Direct do not report separately on referrals to general practitioner (GP) out-of-hours services. All calls resulting in a GP referral are treated as a referral to primary care services. Data on referrals to primary care services are included within calls referred to another service, shown in the final table.
	
		
			  Calls referred to 999 
			   Quarter  Number  Percentage of symptomatic calls  Percentage of all calls 
			 2003 Q1 52,765 6 4 
			 2003 Q2 49,065 5 3 
			 2003 Q3 50,860 6 4 
			 2003 Q4 57,681 6 4 
			 2004 Q1 58,948 6 4 
			 2004 Q2 58,583 6 4 
			 2004 Q3 56,105 6 4 
			 2004 Q4 62,673 6 4 
			 2005 Q1 62,000 5 4 
			 2005 Q2 59,261 5 4 
			 2005 Q3 55,685 5 4 
			 2005 Q4 62,046 6 4 
			 2006 Q1 61,005 5 4 
			 2006 Q2 50,458 5 3 
			 2006 Q3 46,989 5 4 
			 2006 Q4 49,528 5 4 
			 2007 Q1 46,994 5 4 
			 2007 Q2 45,200 5 3 
			 2007 Q3 39,923 4 3 
			 2007 Q4 48,843 5 4 
			 2008 Q1 46,342 4 3 
			 2008 Q2 41,024 4 3 
			 2008 Q3 39,022 4 3 
			 2008 Q4 46,636 4 3 
		
	
	
		
			  Calls referred to accident and emergency 
			   Quarter  Number  Percentage of symptomatic calls  Percentage of all calls 
			 2003 Q1 105,230 11 7 
			 2003 Q2 106,974 12 7 
			 2003 Q3 109,361 13 8 
			 2003 Q4 98,794 11 7 
			 2004 Q1 106,576 11 7 
			 2004 Q2 104,427 11 7 
			 2004 Q3 94,873 10 7 
			 2004 Q4 94,189 9 6 
			 2005 Q1 91,395 8 6 
			 2005 Q2 99,764 9 6 
			 2005 Q3 97,610 9 7 
			 2005 Q4 98,766 9 6 
			 2006 Q1 97,115 9 6 
			 2006 Q2 97,575 9 7 
			 2006 Q3 92,483 10 7 
			 2006 Q4 84,922 9 6 
			 2007 Q1 81,560 9 7 
			 2007 Q2 92,995 9 7 
			 2007 Q3 85,702 9 7 
			 2007 Q4 87,553 9 7 
			 2008 Q1 91,871 9 7 
			 2008 Q2 90,395 9 7 
			 2008 Q3 85,104 9 7 
			 2008 Q4 83,982 8 6 
		
	
	
		
			  Calls referred to self-care 
			   Quarter  Number  Percentage of symptomatic calls  Percentage of all calls 
			 2003 Q1 118,810 13 8 
			 2003 Q2 115,279 13 8 
			 2003 Q3 110,054 13 8 
			 2003 Q4 119,700 13 8 
			 2004 Q1 124,457 13 9 
			 2004 Q2 136,694 14 9 
			 2004 Q3 143,332 15 10 
			 2004 Q4 170,860 16 11 
			 2005 Q1 183,390 16 11 
			 2005 Q2 180,200 16 11 
			 2005 Q3 176,420 17 12 
			 2005 Q4 188,292 17 12 
			 2006 Q1 195,887 17 13 
			 2006 Q2 189,296 18 13 
			 2006 Q3 177,228 19 13 
			 2006 Q4 179,722 19 14 
			 2007 Q1 173,244 19 14 
			 2007 Q2 208,698 21 16 
			 2007 Q3 210,991 23 18 
			 2007 Q4 275,776 27 22 
			 2008 Q1 316,532 29 23 
			 2008 Q2 323,798 31 25 
			 2008 Q3 299,501 31 24 
			 2008 Q4 366,031 33 27 
		
	
	
		
			  Calls referred to pharmacy 
			   Quarter  Number  Percentage of symptomatic calls  Percentage of all calls 
			 2003 Q1 23,973 3 2 
			 2003 Q2 24,204 3 2 
			 2003 Q3 21,104 2 2 
			 2003 Q4 21,493 2 2 
			 2004 Q1 23,959 2 2 
			 2004 Q2 25,038 3 2 
			 2004 Q3 25,813 3 2 
			 2004 Q4 24,670 2 2 
			 2005 Q1 22,771 2 1 
			 2005 Q2 24,395 2 2 
			 2005 Q3 21,173 2 1 
			 2005 Q4 22,504 2 1 
			 2006 Q1 21,530 2 1 
			 2006 Q2 24,958 2 2 
			 2006 Q3 18,843 2 1 
			 2006 Q4 16,260 2 1 
			 2007 Q1 15,009 2 1 
			 2007 Q2 21,046 2 2 
			 2007 Q3 18,247 2 2 
			 2007 Q4 13,515 1 1 
			 2008 Q1 15,716 1 1 
			 2008 Q2 16,279 2 1 
			 2008 Q3 15,298 2 1 
			 2008 Q4 16,495 2 1 
		
	
	
		
			  Calls referred to another service( 1) 
			   Quarter  Number  Percentage of symptomatic calls  Percentage of all calls 
			 2003 Q1 589,108 63 41 
			 2003 Q2 564,050 62 39 
			 2003 Q3 532,882 62 40 
			 2003 Q4 585,961 63 41 
			 2004 Q1 613,906 63 42 
			 2004 Q2 616,306 62 42 
			 2004 Q3 591,031 62 42 
			 2004 Q4 671,928 63 44 
			 2005 Q1 689,815 61 42 
			 2005 Q2 666,977 61 43 
			 2005 Q3 623,832 60 43 
			 2005 Q4 683,499 61 44 
			 2006 Q1 705,438 62 45 
			 2006 Q2 654,112 61 44 
			 2006 Q3 572,845 60 43 
			 2006 Q4 571,834 60 44 
			 2007 Q1 534,793 60 43 
			 2007 Q2 591,154 59 46 
			 2007 Q3 530,091 58 46 
			 2007 Q4 555,355 55 44 
			 2008 Q1 583,460 54 43 
			 2008 Q2 573,206 54 44 
			 2008 Q3 527,817 54 43 
			 2008 Q4 564,930 52 41 
			 (1 )Includes all GP referrals.  Source: National Operations Centre, NHS Direct

NHS: Pensions

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the NHS Pension Scheme have received pension overpayments due to guaranteed minimum pension data not being properly transferred.

Ann Keen: NHS pensions are continuing to work with other organisations to confirm the numbers of members of the NHS Pension Scheme who have been overpaid as a result of the incorrect indexation of the guaranteed minimum pension. We estimate that around 51,000 pensioners will be affected. We anticipate that final figures will be known by the end of February 2009.

Nurses: Training

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of student nurses are studying for a  (a) diploma and  (b) degree;
	(2)  what support is available to nursing students studying for a  (a) diploma and  (b) degree.

Ann Keen: The actual number of student nurses studying degree and diploma courses is not held centrally. However, the number of training posts commissioned each year by strategic health authorities in England in the financial years 2005-06 to 2007-08 are as follows:
	
		
			2005-06 Commissions  2006-07 Commissions  2007-08 Commissions 
			No.  Proportion  No.  Proportion  No.  Proportion 
			 Nursing Degree 3,238 0.16 4,006 0.19 4,062 0.21 
			  Diploma 17,076 0.84 17,193 0.81 15,290 0.79 
			  Source: Multi Professional Education and Training quarterly monitoring returns 
		
	
	Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria diploma level nursing students receive a non-means tested NHS bursary and degree level nursing students receive a means tested NHS bursary supplemented by a non means tested Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills student loan (approximately 50 per cent. of the full loan available to non-health care degree level students). Additional allowances are also available, subject to individual circumstances, for students with disabilities, others with dependants and to cover some childcare costs.
	University Access to Leaning Funds, administered via most higher education institutions may be available to nursing students who have taken up their full entitlement to a NHS bursary and (if applicable) a student loan and are in need of further financial support. The basic NHS bursary rates for new students in academic year 2008-09 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS bursary rates  2008-09  (£) 
			 Degree — 
			 London Up to 3,306 
			 Elsewhere Up to 2,739 
			 Parental Home Up to 2,287 
			 Diploma — 
			 London 7,629 
			 Elsewhere 6,531 
			 Parental Home 6,531 
		
	
	As part of the national health service (NHS) Next Stage Review the Department is undertaking a review of NHS student support to consider a wide range of options for student support, including addressing the anomaly under which nursing degree students receive different support from nursing diploma students. The review is being taken forward in partnership with key stakeholders including trades unions.
	In addition to the basic NHS bursary, the NHS meets both diploma and degree level nursing students' liability for a national tuition fee contribution of £7,273 in 2008-09.

Patients Rights

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what procedures will apply to the imposition of financial penalties for hospitals which do not meet required standards of privacy and dignity for patients;
	(2)  with reference to his announcement of 28 January 2009 on mixed-sex accommodation in the NHS, what financial penalties hospitals may be liable for; and how he plans to define overriding clinical justification.

Ann Keen: From 2010-11 hospitals that treat patients in mixed sex accommodation will face significant financial consequences—unless there is an overriding clinical justification.
	Officials are currently examining options for financial levers in the standard contracts from April 2010, and are also determining appropriate measures and definitions for "overriding clinical justification".

Physiotherapy: Manpower

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) physiotherapists and  (b) speech therapists worked in the NHS in each year since 1997; and how many worked in each NHS organisation in each of the last three years.

Ann Keen: The information is contained in tables which have been placed in the Library.

Primary Care Trusts

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) deprivation score, as recorded in the indices of deprivation,  (b) forecast surplus in 2008-09 as a percentage of turnover,  (c) revenue allocation in 2008-09 per unweighted head and  (d) the number of GPs per 100,000 population is of each primary care trust.

Ben Bradshaw: The information in the following table shows:
	the index of multiple deprivation (IMD) 2007 score;
	forecast outturn surplus or deficit as a percentage of turnover at quarter two 2008-09;
	the revenue allocation in 2008-09 per unweighted head; and
	the number of general practitioners (GPs) (excluding retainers and registrars) at 30 September 2007 per 100,000 unweighted population for each primary care trust (PCT).
	
		
			  PCT  IMD 2007  Forecast outturn s urplus or deficit as percentage of turnover at quarter two  2008-09  2008-09 allocation per unweighted head  ( £ )  Number of GPs per 100,000 population 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 26.9 0.4 1,563 59.4 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 34.5 6.1 1,702 48.4 
			 Barnet PCT 21.2 1.3 1,442 64.7 
			 Barnsley PCT 30.5 0.4 1,609 55.2 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 24.1 1.7 1,394 59.3 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 11.5 0.7 1,269 66.4 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 12.3 0.1 1,215 60.7 
			 Berkshire East PCT 12.9 0.0 1,300 58.5 
			 Berkshire West PCT 10.8 0.2 1,230 67.5 
			 Bexley Care Trust 16.2 0.0 1,406 51.1 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 38.9 0.3 1,605 62.2 
			 Blackburn with Darwen PCT 35.8 1.0 1,565 57.5 
			 Blackpool PCT 37.7 1.2 1,708 62.0 
			 Bolton PCT 29.7 0.2 1,542 65.5 
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 19.3 1.1 1,510 71.7 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 32.0 0.2 1,503 80.4 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 29.2 2.6 1,650 69.5 
			 Brighton and Hove City PCT 25.6 0.0 1,562 64.8 
			 Bristol PCT 27.8 0.7 1,425 82.8 
			 Bromley PCT 14.4 0.0 1,405 67.0 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 8.9 -1.2 1,216 66.6 
			 Bury PCT 21.4 0.1 1,439 58.3 
			 Calderdale PCT 23.0 0.5 1,454 56.6 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 11.5 0.0 1,230 70.1 
			 Camden PCT 28.6 1.5 1,737 62.8 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 13.8 0.0 1,340 64.5 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 20.8 1.2 1,441 59.4 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 44.9 0.0 1,972 86.1 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 24.0 0.7 1,395 72.2 
			 County Durham PCT 27.1 0.1 1,646 69.4 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 27.9 1.0 1,548 62.5 
			 Croydon PCT 21.3 1.2 1,444 63.9 
			 Cumbria Teaching PCT 21.2 0.0 1,437 74.0 
			 Darlington PCT 24.2 0.1 1,590 71.6 
			 Derby City PCT 26.6 0.6 1,407 59.5 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 18.8 0.5 1,395 66.1 
			 Devon PCT 17.4 -1.3 1,363 81.4 
			 Doncaster PCT 30.8 0.5 1,567 59.2 
			 Dorset PCT 14.2 0.7 1,388 74.9 
			 Dudley PCT 23.7 0.4 1,423 62.3 
			 Ealing PCT 25.1 0.8 1,595 63.8 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 12.4 0.1 1,275 57.6 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 27.3 0.5 1,554 58.1 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 14.2 0.5 1,276 61.4 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 15.5 0.5 1,451 66.0 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 20.2 0.5 1,455 59.6 
			 Enfield PCT 26.2 0.0 1,508 61.0 
			 Gateshead PCT 29.5 0.1 1,716 74.3 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 14.7 0.7 1,309 67.7 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 24.9 0.0 1,493 62.9 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 33.9 0.4 1,665 59.4 
			 Halton and St. Helens PCT 30.9 0.1 1,645 60.9 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 28.1 5.7 1,737 62.7 
			 Hampshire PCT 10.4 -0.3 1,288 64.2 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 35.7 0.5 1,688 64.8 
			 Harrow PCT 15.6 0.6 1,463 71.3 
			 Hartlepool PCT 34.1 0.1 1,653 69.6 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 24.8 1.2 1,639 65.0 
			 Havering PCT 16.1 0.2 1,481 55.1 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 48.3 1.9 1,685 61.9 
			 Herefordshire PCT 17.6 0.2 1,337 76.7 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 33.9 0.9 1,603 59.1 
			 Hillingdon PCT 18.6 0.0 1,450 56.1 
			 Hounslow PCT 23.2 0.0 1,563 59.3 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 38.3 1.4 1,524 55.1 
			 Isle of Wight NHS PCT 20.7 0.5 1,524 61.3 
			 Islington PCT 39.0 1.5 2,067 70.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 23.5 2.5 1,512 48.7 
			 Kingston PCT 13.1 0.1 1,345 66.9 
			 Kirklees PCT 25.2 0.5 1,413 61.2 
			 Knowsley PCT 43.2 0.5 1,886 55.2 
			 Lambeth PCT 34.9 0.5 1,858 86.1 
			 Leeds PCT 25.1 0.4 1,444 66.7 
			 Leicester City PCT 34.7 0.5 1,487 64.0 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 10.6 0.1 1,190 59.2 
			 Lewisham PCT 31.0 0.0 1,799 71.9 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 18.0 0.7 1,346 57.4 
			 Liverpool PCT 47.0 0.9 1,917 71.3 
			 Luton PCT 24.7 0.0 1,433 56.5 
			 Manchester PCT 44.5 0.0 1,759 64.4 
			 Medway PCT 19.5 1.3 1,326 48.0 
			 Mid Essex PCT 11.5 0.0 1,187 57.4 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 38.9 0.1 1,711 68.9 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 15.1 0.0 1,251 61.9 
			 Newcastle PCT 31.4 0.1 1,725 70.9 
			 Newham PCT 43.0 0.5 1,828 73.3 
			 Norfolk PCT 17.3 0.0 1,333 67.5 
			 North East Essex PCT 18.7 0.0 1,388 57.3 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus 28.8 0.5 1,464 59.4 
			 North Lancashire Teaching PCT 18.4 0.4 1,436 60.0 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 22.1 0.4 1,368 61.5 
			 North Somerset PCT 15.0 0.0 1,311 63.8 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 18.2 0.7 1,430 55.1 
			 North Tyneside PCT 23.5 0.1 1,541 72.0 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 13.4 0.0 1,269 73.4 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 16.1 0.5 1,304 60.2 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 20.8 0.0 1,461 77.1 
			 Nottingham City PCT 37.3 0.5 1,509 63.4 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 18.8 1.1 1,370 60.2 
			 Oldham PCT 30.8 0.4 1,573 57.9 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 11.1 0.0 1,221 72.7 
			 Peterborough PCT 24.5 0.0 1,552 63.8 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 26.1 0.7 1,454 75.2 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 24.2 2.0 1,313 57.9 
			 Redbridge PCT 20.4 3.5 1,392 52.4 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 29.7 0.1 1,635 69.2 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 9.6 0.1 1,449 67.4 
			 Rotherham PCT 26.7 0.5 1,549 61.4 
			 Salford PCT 36.5 0.4 1,792 71.7 
			 Sandwell PCT 36.9 1.4 1,616 60.0 
			 Sefton PCT 25.1 0.1 1,639 60.1 
			 Sheffield PCT 27.8 0.1 1,574 76.0 
			 Shropshire County PCT 16.2 0.1 1,315 69.7 
			 Solihull Care Trust 16.2 0.3 1,323 69.2 
			 Somerset PCT 15.9 0.7 1,331 74.8 
			 South Birmingham PCT 30.9 1.1 1,544 76.5 
			 South East Essex PCT 16.6 0.2 1,409 56.0 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 9.6 0.0 1,178 71.4 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 15.6 0.6 1,283 59.3 
			 South Tyneside PCT 31.2 0.2 1,724 65.0 
			 South West Essex PCT 18.8 0.0 1,392 48.0 
			 Southampton City PCT 24.3 0.6 1,398 70.1 
			 Southwark PCT 33.3 0.0 1,826 74.7 
			 Stockport PCT 18.1 0.0 1,418 67.3 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT 23.8 0.0 1,405 58.8 
			 Stoke on Trent PCT 35.3 1.0 1,618 56.6 
			 Suffolk PCT 13.8 0.0 1,274 65.5 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 31.8 0.1 1,744 68.1 
			 Surrey PCT 8.1 0.0 1,316 67.1 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 14.3 0.0 1,395 64.6 
			 Swindon PCT 16.5 0.7 1,355 65.3 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 27.2 0.5 1,572 59.2 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 22.3 3.1 1.332 57.9 
			 Torbay Care Trust 26.4 0.7 1,525 72.5 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 44.6 1.5 1,903 71.2 
			 Trafford PCT 17.3 0.4 1,500 65.0 
			 Wakefield District PCT 27.1 0.5 1,530 67.0 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 30.3 2.7 1,586 54.3 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 33.2 0.1 1,628 65.8 
			 Wandsworth PCT 20.3 1.0 1,579 71.6 
			 Warrington PCT 17.9 0.4 1,419 61.3 
			 Warwickshire PCT 14.6 0.0 1,321 61.1 
			 West Essex PCT 14.4 0.0 1,377 65.6 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 11.4 0.1 1,324 65.0 
			 West Kent PCT 13.5 0.5 1,297 58.3 
			 West Sussex PCT 13.1 0.1 1,400 68.0 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 17.0 0.4 1,459 75.0 
			 Westminster PCT 26.3 2.9 1,627 54.0 
			 Wiltshire PCT 10.4 0.2 1,246 65.9 
			 Wirral PCT 27.9 0.5 1,680 70.3 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 33.0 6.7 1,606 57.0 
			 Worcestershire PCT 15.5 0.7 1,311 72.8 
			 England  0.5 1,449 65.1 
			  Notes: 1. The IMD 2007 is published by Communities and Local Government and combines a number of indicators, chosen to cover a range of economic, social and housing issues, into a single deprivation score for small areas in England. 2. The forecast surplus or deficit at quarter two 2008-09 is published by the Department at:  www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_091230. 3. The population used as the denominator is the PCT responsible population for 2008 from the 2004-based Office for National Statistics population projections, adjusted for cross border patient flows using 2007 GP registrations. 4. The number of GPs is from the general practice census published each year by the Information Centre for Health and Social Care at:  www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/workforce/nhs-staff-numbers/nhs-staff-1997-2007-general-practice

Prostate Cancer

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the programmes run by his Department to raise awareness of prostate cancer;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent on programmes to raise awareness of prostate cancer in each of the last five years;
	(3)  what advice his Department offers to the public on potential symptoms of prostate cancer; and what plans he has to initiate further public awareness campaigns.

Ann Keen: Raising the public awareness of prostate cancer is a key challenge. We want men to know what their prostate is, what it does, and what can go wrong with it. However, we have to raise awareness in a responsible way so as not to cause undue anxiety.
	That is why the Prostate Cancer Advisory Group Public Awareness Working Group developed a definitive set of consistent key messages for the general public about the prostate, including prostate cancer. These messages provide men and their families with information about the prostate designed in such a way as not to cause unnecessary anxiety. The key messages have been agreed by 20 organisations, including charities, patient groups and professional bodies, as well as the Department. The messages are free for all organisations to use, and were published in 2008 in the Royal British Legion's Members Directory and in supplements to the  Daily Express and  The Daily Telegraph at a cost of over £5,000.
	The Department invested £100,000 in a pilot public awareness programme of the prostate and its function, a joint programme with signatories to the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action who provided £50,000 of funding. The pilot took place in Coventry in 2006 to test the effectiveness of the key messages, the intervention used to promote the messages and the impact promoting the messages has on national health service (NHS) services. The final evaluation reports and recommendations of the pilot have been referred to the Cancer Reform Strategy National Awareness and Early Detection Initiative (NAEDI).
	NAEDI aims to make the public and healthcare professionals more aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer, including prostate cancer, and encourage those who may have symptoms to seek advice earlier. An example of future work includes the Football Foundation's awareness raising project, which is part funded by the Department, which will work to raise awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with bowel, lung and prostate cancers in men aged over 55.
	Other investment in the public awareness of prostate cancer in the last five years has included:
	investing over £100,000 in UK Prostate Link, the first comprehensive online source of information of its kind, to help the public, prostate cancer patients, their families and health professionals to find all the information they want to know about prostate cancer, including signs and symptoms. This is a collaborative project, co-funded with signatories to the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action;
	providing £30,000 to the Men's Health Forum to help fund its publication, the "Men and Cancer Manual" in 2004;
	providing £29,000 to the Men's Health Forum to produce and distribute 'mini' "Men and Cancer Manuals", including detailed information on prostate cancer, in 2007 and 2008. A further collaboration is planned for 2009; and
	providing £105,000 to the Prostate Cancer Charity to improve awareness of the risks and symptoms of prostate cancer in African and Afro-Caribbean men between 2003 and 2006.

Prosthetics

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is being made by the NHS to provide modern prosthetic technology to those people with thalidomide related impairments who rely on prosthesis for independent living and mobility.

Dawn Primarolo: It is for primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders to assess the needs of their local population and to commission services accordingly. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of prosthetic services.

Speech Therapy

Kevin Barron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what ways his Department monitors the quality of service of speech and language therapy; and how he plans to inform patients of the findings of such monitoring.

Ann Keen: The quality of speech and language therapy (SLT) services is not monitored centrally. It is for primary care trusts, working with local stakeholders, to monitor the quality of these services and to disseminate their results.
	As part of the improved allied health professional (AHP) service offer, which includes SLTs, announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health in October 2008, we will ensure that as part of the work described in 'High Quality Care for AH' to develop an integrated set of quality metrics, there is a clear focus on metrics related to services provided by clinical teams inclusive of AHPs. The metrics developed through this work will be shared across the country.

Spinal Injuries

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been treated in NHS hospitals for spinal cord injuries in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) the Tees Valley and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Strokes: Health Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on  (a) provision and  (b) co- ordination of (i) transient ischaemic attack units, (ii) stroke units and (iii) hyper acute units in the same location to enable stroke response; what process is being followed to determine the adequacy of stroke care provision in North East London and the location of a new stroke care unit; what public consultation will take place as part of this process; and what provisions there are to challenge the outcome of the consultation.

Ann Keen: Policy for stroke services is set out in the national strategy for stroke services in England which was published in December 2007. A copy has already been placed in the Library. It provides a quality framework against which local services can secure improvements to services and address health inequalities relating to stroke over a period of 10 years. It also provides support and guidance for commissioners, strategic health authorities and others in the planning, development and monitoring of services.
	How services are configured in response to the strategy is for local decision. Issues related to the provision of stroke services in London are a matter for NHS London and the primary care trusts (PCTs) within it.
	The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees jointly or individually can refer decisions to the Secretary of State if they consider them not in the interests of the health service locally. The Secretary of State may in turn seek advice from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.

Suicide

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to achieve a reduction in the number of suicides; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The "National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England: Annual Report 2007" highlights action taken to reduce suicides, action planned for 2008 and statistical information on suicides in England.
	Since publication of this report, further statistics on suicide "Mortality Target Monitoring" have been published and can be found at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_088867
	Copies of both publications have been placed in the Library.

Suicide

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what non-governmental organisations working towards the prevention of suicide have received funding from his Department since 1997.

Phil Hope: The Department has worked with and provided funding to a number of non-governmental organisations in the voluntary, statutory and private sector in taking forward work to prevent suicides including funding from Section 64 grants.
	Tables detailing grant awards made to organisations working towards the prevention of suicide and support for those affected by it are as follows.
	
		
			  Section 64 Grants 1996 to 2009 :  Grants for organisations working towards the prevention of suicide and support for those affected by suicide 
			  £ 
			   1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			  The Samaritans   
			 Third year core grant 115,000 80,000 60,000 — — — 
			 Third year 'Health of the Nation' 50,000 — — — — — 
			 Elderly Outreach Project 38,500 38,500 38,500 — — — 
			 Passport for Life — 50,000 — — — — 
			 Listen for Life — — 37,750 35,950 40,830 — 
			 Festival Branch — — 17,500 19,100 20,750 — 
			 Single Number and Volunteer Needs — — — 45,000 45,000 45,000 
			 Reaching Young England — — — — 32,000 36,000 
			 Availability via Communications Technology — — — — — 30,000 
			
			  SANE   
			 Third year core grant 125,000 75,000 50,000 — — — 
			 Development of London Helproom Management and Volunteer Training — — 29,350 29,350 29,350 — 
			 Expansion and development of Sane's internal and external Mental Health Awareness training project — — — 40,000 40,000 40,000 
		
	
	
		
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  The Samaritans
			 Reaching Young England 40,000 — — — — — — 
			 Availability via Communications Technology 30,000 — — — — — — 
			 Minority Groups project 40,000 40,000 40,000 25,000 — — — 
			 Joint Working project 45,000 40,000 40,000 25,000 — — — 
			 Core Funding — 100,000 90,000 80,000 — — — 
			 
			  Making space
			 Mainstreaming Carer Support (to assist delivery of enhanced CPA & DH targets on suicide/readmissions) — 40,000 38,000 36,000 — — — 
			 
			  Asian Family Counselling Service
			 Aaastha (Suicide and Asian Women) — — — 40,000 40,000 40,000 — 
			 
			  PAPYRUS -Prevention of Suicides
			 Hopeline UK — — — 35,000 35,000 35,000 — 
			 
			  Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)
			 Core Funding — — — 20,000 19,500 19,000 — 
			 
			  Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
			 CALM National Launch — — — — 45,000 40,000 38,000

Suicide

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much the NHS spent on the prevention of suicide in each year since 1992;
	(2)  how much each primary care trust spent on the prevention of suicide in the latest year for which records are available;
	(3)  what funding his Department has provided to local government for work related to the prevention of suicide since 1997.

Phil Hope: The information requested is not collected centrally.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1742W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, when he expects to publish the results of the detailed periodic assessment of the Government's Afghanistan strategy.

Bill Rammell: As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced to the House on 3 December 2008,  Official Report, columns 28-29, a review of the Government's Afghanistan policy is under way, involving the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, and reporting to the Prime Minister. Once completed, the findings and implications of the review will be announced to the House.

Burma: Christianity

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of  (a) closures of churches in Burma and  (b) the treatment of Christians in that country; what recent representations he has made to the government of Burma on the matter; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We are concerned that the Burmese regime has imposed restrictions on churches and other places of worship for religious minorities in Rangoon. We condemn the marginalisation or persecution of any community based on their religious beliefs. We also remain concerned about reports that the mainly Buddhist Burmese authorities restrict freedom of religion. There are Christians among a variety of ethnic groups in Burma, though their persecution by the authorities appears to be based largely on their ethnicity rather than their faith.
	The regime's actions are part of a wider deterioration of the human rights situation in Burma and the UK will continue to ask the UN Secretary-General's Good Offices mission and representatives of the UN human rights bodies to raise our concerns with the State Peace and Development Council.

Central Asia: Nuclear Weapons

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the entry into force of a Central Asian nuclear weapon-free zone.

Bill Rammell: The UK supports the principle of a Central Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone and welcomes Kazakhstan's recent ratification of the treaty of Semipalatinsk. The Government believe this gives the central Asian states the opportunity to amend articles IV and XII, the provisions of which pertaining to transit arrangements and the primacy of previous security arrangements are not in our view compatible with a nuclear weapon-free zone. Acceptable amendments to these provisions will enable the UK to ratify the protocol to the treaty.

Departmental Freedom of Information

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the average cost to his Department of responding to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 has been since 2006.

Gillian Merron: A report prepared for the Ministry of Justice by Frontier Economics Ltd. in October 2006 entitled "Independent Review of the impact of the Freedom of Information Act" estimated a figure of £254 for a central Government body to deal with an initial Freedom of Information request. Based on this figure, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has spent an estimated £805,434 since 2006.
	The report is available on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.foi.gov.uk/reference/foi-independent-review.pdf

Departmental Surveys

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest annual survey of the UK's reputation in the US, China and India in the financial services, ICT, life sciences and energy sectors, as referred to on page eight of his Department's Autumn 2008 Performance Report.

David Miliband: A copy of the UK reputation benchmarking survey has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Telephone Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many telephone numbers for which callers are charged at the rate applicable to 0845 numbers are used by  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies for public access to services.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and its executive agencies maintain one 0845 number. This number is provided as an alternative to the FCO website for users to access up to date travel advice. The FCO receives no financial benefit from this arrangement.

Egypt: Religious Freedom

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of  (a) attacks on the Abu Fana monastery in Egypt and  (b) the risk of attacks on the Coptic community in Egypt; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government have received reports of an incident which occurred at the Abu Fana Coptic monastery on 31 May 2008. The incident concerned the building of a wall on agricultural land disputed by the local village, Deir Abu Fana and the monastery. The dispute became violent when a mob attacked the monastery, killing a local resident. Two monastery workers suffered bullet wounds, two monks suffered injuries and three monks were taken by the mob and badly beaten. I understand that the disagreement has been settled through customary informal negotiations. We understand that no one has been brought to trial and 15 people remain in detention.
	With at least 8 million Coptic Christians in Egypt, creating tolerance between Coptic and Muslim communities is essential. The Egyptian President is personally involved in efforts to promote tolerance and inter-faith harmony, and has taken steps to promote and protect the rights of Christian, such as appointing Christians to parliament and other senior government posts (including the Head of the National Council for Human Rights). But sectarian tension and discrimination does sometimes exist at grass roots level. We regularly raise our concerns about human rights with the Egyptian government, and will continue to do so.

European Union

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial facilities his Department has made available to the EU offices of the devolved Administrations; what sums were provided; and what period elapsed between payment and cost recovery in each case in each of the last five years.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Joint Management Office (JMO) in Brussels provides management services including financial facilities to the three UK missions in Brussels: UK Delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; UK Representation to the EU and our bilateral Embassy, as well as to the EU offices of the devolved Administrations.
	Financial facilities are in place to provide services such as assistance with the finding of accommodation, recruitment of locally engaged staff, and sourcing health care provision.
	Additionally, there is a financial facility in place for us to recover costs incurred on behalf of the devolved Administrations, such as for transport, and until last year a charge for management services provided by the JMO.
	The JMO pay invoices on behalf of the devolved Administrations in Brussels. The JMO then recover the costs directly from the appropriate devolved Administration.
	Information on charging is only available from 1 April 2004, and is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial facility charges to devolved Administrations for the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2008 including management costs 
			   Amount (£) 
			 National Assembly for Wales 45,953.82 
			 Northern Ireland Office 4,772.63 
			 Northern Ireland Executive 25,848.92 
			 Scottish Executive 59,150.30 
		
	
	Information relating to the period elapsed between payment and recovery of costs is not available.

Gaza: Weapons

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with  (a) his US counterpart,  (b) his Israeli counterpart and  (c) others to discuss the flow of weapons into Gaza.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 2 February 2009
	We are extremely concerned about the smuggling of arms and people into Gaza. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met US Secretary of State Clinton on 4 February 2009 and Israeli Foreign Minister Livni on 21 January 2009 to discuss Gaza and the Middle East Peace Process, including arms smuggling. He has frequently spoken to his US, Israeli and other counterparts on ways to help prevent smuggling.

India: Foreign Relations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his Indian counterpart.

Bill Rammell: There are currently no arrangements for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to meet Foreign Minister Mukherjee. They do and will continue to maintain regular contact.

Iraq: Asylum

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to seek to prevent the enforced and unlawful resettlement of residents of Ashraf city.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 10 February 2009
	I should clarify that it was the US, not the UK, who had sole responsibility for the security and administration of the camp. The responsibility for the camp was handed to the Iraqi authorities from 1 January 2009 by the US. Several hundred former residents have voluntarily returned to Iran in the recent past. Reporting leads us to understand that those who have returned have not been ill treated. Repatriations to Iran of those residents who wish to return will continue. But there is no evidence to suggest forced relocation of the residents in Iraq or elsewhere will take place. Whilst residents of the camp were treated as "protected persons", this was exercised at the good will of the US authorities in charge and was not granted through any legal obligation under international law.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made by the European Union of the financial cost of damage or destruction of EU-funded facilities in the Palestinian Territories by Israeli military action since 1998; and whether compensation has been paid by Israel to the EU.

Bill Rammell: A full assessment of the humanitarian consequences and the damage caused by the military operation has yet to be made. Relief needs are expected to be huge. Activities in the Gaza strip will be part of an early recovery plan which will follow a joint needs assessment being coordinated with multilateral and international donors. The UK will welcome any contribution made towards the reconstruction of Gaza.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on allegations of Hamas fighters  (a) shedding uniforms,  (b) donning civilian clothing and  (c) hiding within the civilian population in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have received credible reports—including from human rights non-governmental organisations and from our own staff in Gaza—that Hamas fighters attempted to blend into the civilian population, that they conducted military activities in areas where civilians were sheltering and that they booby-trapped civilian infrastructure. UN Security Council Resolution 1860, which was proposed by the UK, was emphatic in its condemnation of all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make representations to the Israeli government to fund most of the reconstruction work required in Gaza.

Bill Rammell: We would welcome an Israeli contribution to the wider reconstruction effort. The most essential Israeli action that we continue to press for is the immediate free and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid, construction materials and the staff of UN agencies and international non-governmental organisations through the Gaza crossings.

Pakistan: Marriage

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to assist British nationals who are in violent forced marriages in Pakistan.

Gillian Merron: Where it is known that a British national has already been forced into marriage, staff from our high commission in Islamabad will attempt to contact the individual to offer support. This can vary from a welfare visit to assistance in returning to the UK. We work closely with both the central and local authorities in Pakistan in providing this assistance.
	The Forced Marriage Unit in London can also help to arrange accommodation for victims when they return to the UK and can refer victims to counselling and support groups, refuges, and legal centres.
	To help support victims of Forced Marriage, the Forced Marriage Civil Protection Act was introduced in November 2008. The Act allows the court the power to protect victims who have already been forced into marriage and also to make protection orders to prevent forced marriages occurring. A number of protection orders have already been used since the act's introduction. A copy of the Act is available on the Office of Public Sector Information at:
	www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2007/ukpga_20070020_en_l
	The delay in responding was due to an administrative error.

Russia: Georgia

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the level of compliance by Russia with the terms of the 12 August and 8 September 2008 agreements on Georgia; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: On 12 August 2008, the EU and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) brokered a ceasefire between the parties. These points were supplemented by an implementation plan, again brokered by the EU and OSCE, and agreed on 8 September 2008.
	Russia has met a number, though not all, of its commitments under the 8 August and 12 September 2008 plans. Though Russia withdrew from most of the areas adjacent to South Ossetia and Abkhazia within 10 days of the deployment of an EU Mission to Georgia, it retains a checkpoint at Perevi, which is in the rest of Georgia outside South Ossetia. And within South Ossetia and Abkhazia it has failed to withdraw to its pre-conflict positions: Russian forces are now stationed in the Upper Kodori Valley in Abkhazia and the Akhalgori region of South Ossetia. Neither area was under Russian control before hostilities began.
	Along with our partners, we continue to call on Russia to meet its commitments to the international community in full.
	I will write to the right hon. Member in more detail on Russia's commitments and compliance with them, and will place copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

South Georgia: Research

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2009,  Official Report, column 884W, on Falkland Islands dependencies, how much it cost to maintain the two year-round research stations at South Georgia in the last 12 months.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands each provide the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) with annual funding of £550,000 for the operation of the research station at King Edward Point. The projected running costs for 2008-09 is £715,000. The remainder of the annual funding is used to finance the annual resupply of the base, the costs of chartering a fisheries survey vessel, and BAS overheads such as insurance costs.
	The research station at Bird Island is a British Antarctic Survey facility and its projected running costs for 2008-09 is £335,000.

Sri Lanka

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) meetings and  (b) other contacts he has had with groups representing the Tamil population of Sri Lanka in 2009.

Bill Rammell: On 27 January 2009, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown met a group of over 100 representatives from Tamil communities in the UK to discuss the current situation in Sri Lanka. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly meet groups representing Tamils, most recently in early February 2009.

Sri Lanka: Peace Negotiations

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek to bring about a ceasefire in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 2 February 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in a statement on 29 January 2009 the UK's concerns about the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka. He urged the Sri Lankan Government to put an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in place.
	The full text of that statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view=PressS&id=12945591.

Sri Lanka: Peace Negotiations

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Sri Lankan Government to stop its offensive in Tamil areas and to ensure that government forces respect human rights; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 2 February 2009
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in a statement on 29 January 2009 the UK's concerns about the humanitarian situation in northern Sri Lanka. He urged the Sri Lankan Government to put an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in place.
	The full text of that statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view=PressS&id=12945591.

Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment of the security situation in Sri Lanka is; and what assessment he has made of the likelihood of an end to terrorist violence in that country.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 3 February 2009
	The UK has serious concerns about the humanitarian and security situation in northern Sri Lanka. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the house on 14 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 209-210, we wish to see an end to the violence and agreement on the need for a ceasefire. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary repeated the Prime Minister's call in his statements on 29 and 31 January 2009 urging the Government of Sri Lanka to announce a humanitarian ceasefire. The UK has called on both sides urgently to make progress on a political solution which addresses the legitimate concerns of all of Sri Lanka's communities.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the government of Sudan on bringing Sudan's National Security Act into line with the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Gillian Merron: Revision of the National Security Act is essential for the conduct of free and fair elections which, under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), are due in July 2009. The parties to the CPA agreed to extend the current parliamentary term until several pieces of legislation, including the National Security Act, have been enacted.
	We urge the parties to the CPA to create conditions for free and fair elections through the Elections Donor Group and through the Power Sharing Working Group of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (the international body mandated under the CPA to monitor implementation). My Right Hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this with the Government of Sudan during his visit to Sudan in July 2008.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 29 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 30-32WS, on Tibet, what undertakings the Chinese government gave prior to his Department's change of policy on Tibet; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We did not consult the Chinese Government on the update to our policy on Tibet in the written ministerial statement of 29 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 30-32WS.

Timor-Leste

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment of the political situation in East Timor is; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: East Timor has made slow but steady progress since the 2006 crisis. The security situation has stabilised following the February 2008 attacks on President Ramos Horta and Prime Minister Gusmao. Security sector reform, deep poverty and a weak judiciary remain key challenges. The United Nations Mission in Timor's mandate will be considered later this month and the UK will continue to encourage progress in the above key areas in order to achieve our ultimate goal of helping the people of East Timor stand on their own feet. Dr. Khare, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for East Timor, called on my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, on 21 October 2008 to discuss progress. The UK continues to provide support to East Timor, including through contributing £150,000 to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems to improve the functioning of Timorese election processes.

Western Sahara: Politics and Government

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to seek to ensure that the people of Western Sahara have a referendum on self-determination before 2010.

Bill Rammell: The Government continue to believe that progress towards a negotiated solution to the dispute in Western Sahara which provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara is best achieved under the auspices of the United Nations.
	We continue to support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his staff to secure agreement between the parties on the future status of Western Sahara. The date and terms of any eventual referendum should be agreed by all parties to the dispute.
	In this respect the Government welcome the appointment of the UN Secretary-General's new personal envoy to Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, and encourages all the parties to the dispute to enter into renewed negotiations in a spirit of realism and compromise.

Western Sahara: Politics and Government

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the declaration of an exclusive economic zone by the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic concerning the waters off Western Sahara.

Bill Rammell: The Government are aware, through press releases and media reports, that representatives of the Polisario have declared, on behalf of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, an offshore exclusive economic zone in the waters off the coast of Western Sahara.
	The status of Western Sahara remains unresolved pending the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his staff to achieve a negotiated, lasting solution between the parties to the dispute, providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton) on Wednesday 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2119W).

Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton) on Wednesday 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2119W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-terrorism Control Orders

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the individuals subject to the 15 control orders under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 on 15 December 2008 had been subject to the provisions of one or more control orders for  (a) under six months,  (b) between six and 12 months, (c) between 12 months and two years,  (d) between two and three years and  (e) over three years.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 9 February 2009
	 The last quarterly written ministerial statement on control orders, covering the period 11 September to 10 December 2008, was published on 15 December 2008. The figures provided in this statement are the latest published figures on control orders. Of the individuals subject to control orders on 10 December 2008:
	 (a) One had been subject to one or more control orders for under six months.
	 (b) Seven had been subject to one or more control orders for between six and 12 months.
	 (c) Two had been subject to one or more control orders for between 12 months and two years.
	 (d) Three had been subject to one or more control orders for between two and three years.
	 (e) Two had been subject to one or more control orders for over three years.

Asylum: Sexuality

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people claimed asylum in the UK on grounds of their sexuality in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The requested information is unavailable as it is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on asylum is published annually and quarterly. Asylum Statistics United Kingdom and the Asylum Bulletin are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Asylum: Wimbledon

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many outstanding requests for  (a) asylum and  (b) indefinite leave to remain there are from applicants resident in Wimbledon constituency.

Phil Woolas: The requested information is unavailable as it is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.
	Information on asylum is published annually and quarterly. Asylum Statistics United Kingdom and the Asylum Bulletin are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Asylum: Zimbabwe

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refused Zimbabwean asylum seekers have been forcibly removed from the UK in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The following table shows the number of Zimbabwean national asylum cases, including dependants, who were removed, departed voluntarily or left under assisted returns from the United Kingdom between January 2004 and September 2008.
	Figures for the fourth quarter of 2008 will be published on 24 February 2009.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	
		
			  Removals, voluntary departures and assisted returns( 1)  of Zimbabwe national asylum cases( 2) , by removal type, January 2004 to September 2008 
			  Number of removals( 3) 
			  Period  2004  2005  2006  2007( 7)  January-September 2008( 7) 
			 Total Zimbabwe national asylum cases removed 115 295 285 210 165 
			  O f which:  
			 Enforced removals including voluntary departures after enforcement action had been initiated(4,5) 60 190 65 90 85 
			 Assisted Voluntary Returns(6) 60 105 220 115 80 
			 (1) Includes enforced removals, port asylum removals which have been performed by Enforcement Officers using port powers of removal (and a small number of cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls), persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration and since January 2005 persons who it has been established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (2) Persons who had sought asylum at some stage, including dependants. (3) Figures are rounded to the nearest five and may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. (4) Includes port asylum removals which have been performed by Enforcement Officers using port powers of removal (and a small number of cases dealt with at juxtaposed controls) and since January 2005 persons who it has been established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. (5) Excludes Assisted Voluntary Returns. (6) Persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. May include some cases where enforcement action has been initiated. (7) Provisional figures

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on digital media courses provided by the Internet Advisory Bureau for her Department in 2008; how many training sessions were held; and how many staff members in the Department attended at least one training session.

Phil Woolas: Neither the Home Office, UK Border Agency or the Identity and Passport Service have used the Internet Advisory Bureau in any capacity.

Deportation: Sri Lanka

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assurances her Department has sought from the Sri Lankan government regarding the safety and well being of Tamils deported from the UK to that country; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: All asylum claims including those from Sri Lankan Tamils are considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the refugee convention and the European convention on human rights. Those identified by the decision making process and the independent appeals process not to be in need of international protection are expected to leave the UK voluntarily. Failed asylum seekers can and do voluntarily return to Sri Lanka. Those who do not leave voluntarily may have their return enforced.
	Provision is made for post arrival assistance of all failed asylum seekers we remove to Sri Lanka. We have not sought assurances from the Sri Lankan government regarding the safety of returnees but we do closely monitor the respect for human rights in all countries that we return to. We do not routinely monitor foreign nationals who do not need our protection in their own country, but if specific allegations are made that any returnee has experienced ill-treatment on return from the UK, then these will followed up through our high commission in Colombo.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to decide on the participating countries in the Youth Mobility scheme; and whether any countries not currently participating are seeking to participate.

Phil Woolas: The Tier 5 Statement of Intent published in May 2008 (copies of which are available in the House Library), sets out the eligibility criteria for a country to join the Youth Mobility Scheme. As well as agreeing to be the sponsor of its participating nationals, each country needs to:
	 (a) have an acceptably low level of immigration risk, and not be subject to a mandatory UK visa regime;
	 (b) operate satisfactory returns arrangements with the UK; and
	 (c) provide reciprocal opportunities for young UK nationals.
	Expressions of interest from countries to join the new Youth Mobility Scheme are confidential to the UK Government and the countries concerned. Discussions need to remain confidential in order for countries to feel able to explore their possible involvement and make any appropriate adjustments to fulfil all the criteria for inclusion in the scheme before any public statements about their involvement are made.

Immigration: Offenders

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals with criminal convictions dealt with under the legacy exercise but not pursued for deportation have been  (a) granted and  (b) refused leave to remain since the exercise commenced.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the last update to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 8 December 2008.

Immigration: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many uncleared cases there are of individuals in Peterborough constituency seeking indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 3 February 2009
	The number of applicants who have an uncleared application for indefinite leave to remain in Peterborough constituency is 185.

Immigration: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 284W, on deportation: Peterborough, what her estimate is of the cost to her Department of providing data on  (a) received and  (b) cleared cases in respect of individuals in Peterborough constituency seeking indefinite leave to remain; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 3 February 2009
	The cost of providing data on  (a) received and  (b) cleared cases in respect of individuals in Peterborough constituency seeking indefinite leave to remain is estimated to exceed the £750 threshold for information requests being refused. This is because the information is not stored in the format requested.

Members: Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the inquiry from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, of 23 October 2008, on the status documents of Mr Hassan Abdille Abdi, HO Ref. A130106Z.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency responded to the letter from the right hon. Member on 9 February 2009.

Police

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions there have been between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk  (a) police authorities and  (b) constabularies on cross-border working involving Wisbech and King's Lynn police stations.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office is aware that discussions are taking place between Cambridgeshire and Norfolk police authorities/constabularies about the construction of a shared custody suite for Wisbech and King's Lynn police stations.
	Our policy is to encourage collaboration where it is in the interests of improving the efficiency or effectiveness of the forces concerned or policing generally. We encourage police authorities to collaborate and expect them to be involved in scrutinising any proposals to collaborate.

Police Custody: Young People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data her Department collects on the use of appropriate adults to attend police questioning of minors.

Vernon Coaker: The use of an appropriate adult at a police station during the investigative process involving a juvenile is an operational matter based on the individual circumstances of the case. Information is not held centrally on the use of appropriate adults.

Police: Finance

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces in England and Wales are receiving funding  (a) above,  (b) at and  (c) below the formula funding level in 2008-09; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is in the following table.
	All police authorities receive at least the "floor" increase of 2.5 per cent.
	The damping mechanism exists to protect all authorities against financial instability and ensures all authorities receive an increase in grant at least equal to the "floor" level on a like-for-like basis year-on-year.
	
		
			  2008-09 
			  £ million 
			  Police authority  Raw allocation  Allocation after floors and scaling  Difference 
			 Avon and Somerset 186.0 173.7 -12.3 
			 Bedfordshire 72.3 68.5 -3.8 
			 Cambridgeshire 81.2 78.7 -2.6 
			 Cheshire 108.5 117.6 9.1 
			 Cleveland 94.7 95.3 0.5 
			 Cumbria 53.4 65.6 12.1 
			 Derbyshire 114.7 109.2 -5.6 
			 Devon and Cornwall 179.9 181.9 2.0 
			 Dorset 60.6 63.7 3.1 
			 Durham 83.6 89.2 5.5 
			 Dyfed-Powys 46.9 53.1 6.2 
			 Essex 176.2 173.0 -3.1 
			 GLA - Police 1,885.5 1,930.0 44.5 
			 Gloucestershire 55.4 57.8 2.5 
			 Greater Manchester 462.7 445.6 -17.1 
			 Gwent 78.3 80.6 2.3 
			 Hampshire 203.2 202.2 -0.9 
			 Hertfordshire 120.9 117.7 -3.3 
			 Humberside 125.9 125.1 -0.7 
			 Kent 188.3 187.2 -1.1 
			 Lancashire 201.2 198.8 -2.4 
			 Leicestershire 118.1 114.7 -3.4 
			 Lincolnshire 65.1 62.3 -2.7 
			 Merseyside 264.2 260.6 -3.6 
			 Norfolk 83.3 85.4 2.2 
			 North Wales 68.8 78.2 9.3 
			 North Yorkshire 68.6 74.8 6.2 
			 Northamptonshire 73.9 73.5 -0.4 
			 Northumbria 211.7 243.8 32.1 
			 Nottinghamshire 145.3 136.9 -8.4 
			 South Wales 179.1 176.7 -2.4 
			 South Yorkshire 199.8 199.1 -0.7 
			 Staffordshire 119.6 117.4 -2.3 
			 Suffolk 67.1 69.2 2.1 
			 Surrey 94.7 99.3 4.6 
			 Sussex 156.8 165.7 8.9 
			 Thames Valley 235.1 231.9 -3.2 
			 Warwickshire 53.0 52.8 -0.2 
			 West Mercia 108.3 118.9 10.5 
			 West Midlands 518.0 468.0 -49.9 
			 West Yorkshire 349.2 328.2 -21.0 
			 Wiltshire 60.7 63.6 2.8

Police: Firearms

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers carried firearms as a regular part of their duties in each police force area in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Vernon Coaker: The number of authorised firearms officers in England and Wales in 2006-07 can be found at:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/operational-policing/police-firearms-statistics-06-1.
	Figures for 2007-08 will be published before April 2009.

Police: Per Capita Costs

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of employing police officers was in each police force in England as a percentage of the total force budget in 2007-08.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  2007 - 08 estimates 
			  Police authority  Police officer costs( 1)  (£000)  Total gross revenue expenditure (£000)  Police officer costs as percentage of police authority total gross revenue expenditure (percentage) 
			 Avon and Somerset 164,236 281,069 58.4 
			 Bedfordshire 59,632 103,959 57.4 
			 Cambridgeshire 69,155 128,665 53.7 
			 Cheshire 105,635 187,702 56.3 
			 City of London 51,918 86,884 59.8 
			 Cleveland 81,645 138,836 58.8 
			 Cumbria 59,825 112,257 53.3 
			 Derbyshire 101,699 172,336 59.0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 167,553 288,259 58.1 
			 Dorset 72,844 127,657 57.1 
			 Durham 83,149 129,388 64.3 
			 Dyfed-Powys 60,295 98,342 61.3 
			 Essex 172,119 289,052 59.5 
			 Gloucestershire 64,818 115,575 56.1 
			 Greater Manchester 385,930 612,035 63.1 
			 Gwent 75,149 122,204 61.5 
			 Hampshire 180,052 324,382 55.5 
			 Hertfordshire 105,813 192,476 55.0 
			 Humberside 111,662 182,196 61.3 
			 Kent 185,798 316,396 58.7 
			 Lancashire 174,271 287,976 60.5 
			 Leicestershire 110,494 177,979 62.1 
			 Lincolnshire 59,825 108,166 55.3 
			 Merseyside 223,849 355,662 62.9 
			 Metropolitan 1,857,651 3,341,236 55.6 
			 Norfolk 77,325 156,716 49.3 
			 North Wales 83,596 145,150 57.6 
			 North Yorkshire 81,605 147,613 55.3 
			 Northamptonshire 65,872 124,424 52.9 
			 Northumbria 198,593 317,695 62.5 
			 Nottinghamshire 119,051 205,545 57.9 
			 South Wales 161,272 268,595 60.0 
			 South Yorkshire 163,232 264,662 61.7 
			 Staffordshire 112,248 191,039 58.8 
			 Suffolk 65,832 115,994 56.8 
			 Surrey 95,541 205,514 46.5 
			 Sussex 158,698 291,233 54.5 
			 Thames Valley 208,356 394,881 52.8 
			 Warwickshire 53,208 94,891 56.1 
			 West Mercia 122,902 208,807 58.9 
			 West Midlands 388,350 600,058 64.7 
			 West Yorkshire 269,812 465,867 57.9 
			 Wiltshire 58,991 112,539 52.4 
			 (1) Estimates include pay, including overtime, employee's national insurance, and pensions contributions  Source: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)—2007-08 Estimates (2007-08 Actuals not yet available)

Prisoners: Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people being held in custody have required treatment for diabetes in each of the last five years; and what procedure is used to provide such treatment.

Vernon Coaker: The information is not held centrally. Guidance for police officers and police staff on dealing with diabetes is set out in section 2.4.6 of the "Guidance on The Safer Detention and Handling of Persons in Police Custody"
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/operationalpolicing/Safer_Detention_and_Handlin1.pdf?view=Binary.
	Code of Practice C issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 provides that the custody officer at the police must make sure that a detainee receives appropriate clinical attention if required or if requested by the detainee. If a detainee has medication in their possession relating to diabetes, the advice of the appropriate healthcare professional must be obtained.

UK Border Agency: Standards

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data her Department collects to monitor the UK Border Agency's performance.

Phil Woolas: A draft Framework Agreement for the UK Border Agency was published on the Home Office website in August 2008. That document sets out the arrangements for monitoring the performance of the agency. It places a responsibility on the agency to ensure that consistent, accurate and timely information on its performance is made available to Home Office Ministers, and to the Permanent Secretary and the Home Office Board.
	The UK Border Agency's performance is monitored against the Government-wide public service agreement framework in relation to PSA three for which it has lead responsibility. It is also monitored against the targets and commitments that were set out in the 'UK Border Agency Business Plan, April 2008-March 2011'. The business plan is also available via the Home Office website. Other internal management data are also routinely collected, including on financial and commercial aspects of the UK Border Agency's performance, and data are provided on an ad hoc basis where there is a requirement to review performance in any particular area of its activity in more detail.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Development: Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding her Department will provide to local authorities in respect of their new duty to promote democracy in the next 12 months.

John Healey: The anticipated extra costs to local authorities as a result of the duty to promote democracy were set out in an impact assessment published on the Communities and Local Government website when the Bill was introduced. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House. The relevant amount will be paid to local authorities in the financial year that the duty to promote democracy is commenced by order of the Secretary of State. We anticipate this to be in the financial year 2010-11.

Council Housing: Finance

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much per year pilot local authorities planned to spend on financing the £475 million prudential borrowing expected in their business plans submitted to her Department's modelling exercise on the self-financing of council housing services; and what rate of interest was assumed for this borrowing;
	(2)  how much each local authority has planned to spend on  (a) new housing stock,  (b) sustainability improvements to their housing stock and  (c) stock maintenance over the 30-year period of the business plans included in her Department's modelling exercise on self-financing of council housing services.

Iain Wright: The report of the findings of the modelling exercise was published on 10 March 2008 and is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/selffinancingservices.
	The exercise tested a range of scenarios and assumptions. The exercise was based on the principle that a self-financing local authority would be put in a position which broadly matched the level of resources that it would have received if it had remained within the Housing Revenue Account subsidy system.

Council Tax: Overpayments

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's policy is on the payment of interest in respect of overpaid council tax resulting from a Valuation Office Agency banding error.

John Healey: The legislative framework governing the administration of council tax does not include a specific provision on the payment of interest. The Government have no plans to change this.

Departmental Buildings

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) display energy certificates and  (b) advisory reports for public buildings issued in respect of each property occupied by (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government will place in the Library a copy of the display energy certificates and their associated advisory reports in respect of each qualifying property occupied by my Department and its agencies.

Departmental ICT

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 15 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 266-69W, on departmental ICT, what the purpose is of the  (a) XML Schemas development,  (b) RPD National Capability Survey Geo-database projects and  (c) Ordnance Survey GIS Development project.

Sadiq Khan: The development of a single form for planning applications to replace a myriad of existing forms used across local government in various different formats is achieving significant benefits for local and central government, stakeholder organisations and the general public. The XML Schema development is required to bring the current schemas and associated standards up-to-date to enable the single form to be widely accessible from different IT platforms and personal computers
	The National Capabilities Survey (NCS) is a key part of the UK Government's programme to increase the UK's resilience. The survey aims to assess current levels of capability and readiness across England. The results will identify gaps in event preparedness and be the baseline for judging priorities for future investment, exercising and policy development.
	Ordnance Survey's GIS Development Project is designed to deliver a 'state of the art' technical environment for the National Geographical Database (NGD) to allow field editing, database transaction and data production management activities to take place in a seamless environment. The new systems will replace aging technology and enable Ordnance Survey to increase efficiency, reduce costs and deliver geographic information to market more quickly, with the improved content, currency and capability that customers demand.

Departmental Impact Assessments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many equalities impact assessments her Department has undertaken in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of such assessments.

Sadiq Khan: Over the last 12 months CLG has published one full Equality Impact Assessment for the White Paper "Communities In Control: Real People, Real Power" which is available on the Departmental website. In addition each of the thirty final Impact Assessments published by CLG in 2008 considered the impact of the proposal on race, disability and gender equality. In general the cost of Equality Impact Assessments or Impact Assessments are not distinguished from the total cost of a project.

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in her Department or its predecessors were on sick leave for  (a) over 30 days,  (b) over 50 days and  (c) over 100 days in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: Information on sickness absence for 2004, 2005, 2006-07 for the Department for Communities and Local Government can be found on the civil service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp
	From January 2008, information is provided by departments and collated by Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis. Figures for the 12 months to 31 December 2008 will not be prepared until March 2009.

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff in her Department were recorded as having been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: Information on sickness absence for 2004, 2005, 2006-07 for the Department for Communities and Local Government can be found on the civil service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp
	From January 2008, information is provided by departments and collated by Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis. Figures for the 12 months to 31 December 2008 will not be prepared until March 2009.

Housing: Databases

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the information on domestic properties provided by the Rightmove interface to the Valuation Office Agency includes property attribute information on the number of  (a) bathrooms,  (b) bedrooms and  (c) parking spaces as part of the property.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 28 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 1596-97W.

Local Authorities: Debt Collection

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 19 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 509-10W, on local authorities: debt collection, whether the local authority enforcement powers for council tax include the use of bailiffs to undertake peaceful entry to collect unpaid council tax.

John Healey: Yes.

Local Government Finance

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding her Department is providing to each local authority under the most recent round of Growth Funding  (a) in cash terms and  (b) per capita.

John Healey: Allocations from the Growth Fund were announced in December 2008 to support the delivery of infrastructure in the growth areas (excluding Thames Gateway) and the growth points for 2009-10 and 2010-11. Allocations for 2010-11 are provisional and will be confirmed in early 2010. The Secretary of State will adopt a policy of only altering provisional allocations in exceptional circumstances, in line with the approach taken in relation to the local government settlement. A copy of the allocations has been placed in the Library of the House.
	As funding from the Growth Fund is un-ringfenced, it is paid to the growth location's nominated lead authority for the payment of grant. It is for the growth area/point authorities to prioritise how the funding is divided at the local level. There is no per capita element: to the allocation methodology.
	The growth fund is now being managed by the Homes and Communities Agency.

Local Government Finance: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the percentage increase was in the local government finance settlement for the London Borough of Bexley in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The following table shows the increases for the London Borough of Bexley in formula grant on a like-for-like basis i.e. after adjusting for changes in function and funding.
	
		
			   Prior year's adjusted formula grant( 1)  Current year's formula grant( 2)  Change 
			   £ million  £ million  £ million  Percentage 
			 1998-99 125.118 130.985 5.867 4.7 
			 1999-2000 130.985 140.198 9.213 7.0 
			 2000-01 140.263 146.437 6.174 4.4 
			 2001-02 145.521 154.980 9.459 6.5 
			 2002-03 146.360 156.610 10.250 7.0 
			 Amended 2003-04 159.618 165.225 5.607 3.5 
			 Amended 2004-05 164.982 172.043 7.061 4.3 
			 Amended 2005-06 173.518 182.531 9.013 5.2, 
			 2006-07(3) 56.490 57.671 1.181 2.1 
			 2007-08 57.182 58.726 1.544 2.7 
			 2008-09 62.365 63.612 1.247 2.0 
			 2009-10 63.538 64.650 1.112 1.75 
			 (1) The prior year's formula grant is adjusted for changes in function and funding to enable a like-for-like comparison. (2) Formula Grant comprises Revenue Support Grant, redistributed business rates, principal formula Police Grant, SSA Reduction Grant (SSA Review), SSA Reduction Grant (Police Funding Review) and Central Support Protection Grant where appropriate. (3) Prior to 2006-07 support for schools was paid through formula grant. In 2006-07 funding for schools transferred to the Dedicated Schools Grant.

Local Government: Manpower

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were employed by each local authority in England in each year since 1996-97.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Dartford (Dr. Stoate) on 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1360W.

Local Government: Powers

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she has written to local authorities on the use of their powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act in the last three months.

Sadiq Khan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) by my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Gedling (Mr. Coaker) on 8 October 2008,  Official Report, column 644W.

Local Government: Powers

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the combined authorities proposed in the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill will have powers to levy  (a) a council tax precept,  (b) a congestion charge,  (c) workplace parking charges and  (d) local road pricing charges.

John Healey: The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill allows for the establishment of combined authorities. These will be able to take on the functions of an Economic Prosperity Board (proposed in part 6 of the LDEDC Bill) and the functions of an Integrated Transport Authority (ITA).
	The LDEDC Bill does not empower combined authorities to raise a levy to cover other, non-transport, costs, nor to set a council tax precept. Under the Local Transport Act 2008 the six existing passenger transport authorities in England became ITAs on 9 February 2009. These ITAs (and any new ITAs established under that Act) will have the levying powers which the PTAs have held since 1990 in order to allow them to deliver and invest in transport services in their area.

Mortgages

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of houses mortgaged in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008 where the ratio of house price to earnings was (i) more than 6:1, (ii) more than 8:1 and (iii) more than 10:1, based on data from the Regulated Mortgage Survey and the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Iain Wright: This information is not collected by Communities and Local Government. However for the UK we have made the following estimates based on data from the Regulated Mortgage Survey and the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
	Data on the total number of mortgages for house purchase during 2008 will be available from CML on 12 February 2009.
	
		
			  Number and proportion of mortgages by price to income ratio, UK. 2007 
			  House price to income ratio  Number  Percentage 
			 Less than or equal to 6 819,298 80.6 
			 Greater than 6 but no more than 8 117,305 11.5 
			 Greater than 8 but no more than 10 42,241 4.2 
			 Greater than 10 37,555 3.7 
			 Total 1,016,400 100.0

Non-Domestic Rates

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to make changes to the formula governing distribution of revenue from non-domestic rates to local authorities from 2010.

John Healey: I have already announced the provisional allocation of the 2010-11 formula grant, which comprises revenue support grant, redistributed non-domestic rates and principal formula police grant, where appropriate. In line with the Government's established policy on three-year settlements, it is not intended that this allocation will change other than in exceptional circumstances.

Non-Domestic Rates

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to paragraph 4.16 of the pre-Budget report 2008, whether businesses which pay their liability in instalments will be required to declare backdated business rates bills as liabilities for accounting purposes.

John Healey: I have placed in the Library of the House advice from the insolvency service on this issue.

Non-Domestic Rates

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many individual businesses have been notified by the Valuation Office Agency of  (a) an increase in their rateable value and  (b) a rateable value which previously was not levied in each of the 55 ports in England and Wales.

John Healey: The Valuation Office Agency does not hold the information requested in  (a) above in this form and to assemble it would involve disproportionate cost. The aggregate effect of the review has been to increase the total number of properties (hereditaments) within ports that are separately rated at 1 April 2005 by 605 properties in England. Statistics for Wales have not been included as rates are a devolved matter.
	The effect by each port is:
	
		
			   Cumulative change 
			  Port  Number of hereditaments (+/-) 
			  England  
			 Barrow 1 
			 Blyth 13 
			 Boston 13 
			 Bristol 5 
			 Dover 62 
			 Falmouth 1 
			 Felixstowe 8 
			 Fleetwood 1 
			 Folkestone 5 
			 Great Yarmouth 2 
			 Harwich Dock 2 
			 Harwich International 4 
			 Ipswich 7 
			 King's Lynn 8 
			 Lowestoft 5 
			 Port of London 0 
			 Tilbury Container Services 3 
			 Tilbury 41 
			 Garston 7 
			 Liverpool 91 
			 Manchester ship canal 0 
			 Seaham 7 
			 Sunderland 17 
			 Teesport 16 
			 Tyne 15 
			 Heysham 11 
			 Workington 4 
			 Goole 21 
			 Grimsby 15 
			 Hull 35 
			 Immingham 40 
			 Newhaven 0 
			 Ramsgate 13 
			 Sheerness 55 
			 Shoreham 4 
			 Thamesport 12 
			 Plymouth Cattedown 0 
			 Teignmouth 1 
			 Plymouth Millbay 3 
			 Poole 25 
			 Portsmouth 2 
			 Southampton container terminal 9 
			 Southampton 16 
			 Sharpness 5 
			   
			 Totals England (excl Humber sea terminal) 605

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many port businesses had paid the first instalment of their individually assessed non-domestic rates by 2 February 2009; and on what date the full rates bill will fall due for those who have not paid this instalment.

John Healey: This information is not collected centrally, as the responsibility for issuing rates bills and collecting rates lies with the local authorities.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government under what statutory powers payment of non-domestic rates on port businesses assessed in 2008 may be demanded retrospectively to 2005.

John Healey: Regulation 14(2) of the Non-Domestic Rating (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/659).

Non-Profit Making Associations

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts have been awarded by her Department to social enterprises in each of the last three years.

Sadiq Khan: Changes to the Department's finance system have only allowed the identification of social enterprises since September 2007. Since then three companies have been identified as social enterprises and one contract has been awarded to an organisation identified as a social enterprise.

Official Engagements

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many public engagements inherited by the Minister for Housing upon her appointment have subsequently been cancelled.

Sadiq Khan: There is no such thing as an 'inherited engagement'. My right hon. Friend has accepted or declined a range of invitations since her appointment as part of her ministerial duties.

Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1510W, on redundancy, what estimate she has made of the annual payroll savings resulting from staff exit schemes in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07,  (c) 2007-08 and  (d) 2008-09 excluding the cost of severance packages; and what estimate she has made of the equivalent figures for 2009-10.

Sadiq Khan: holding answer 5 February 2009
	The information requested on payroll savings resulting from staff exit schemes in each year since 2005-06 is not collected centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Such schemes bring benefits beyond reducing payroll costs. They enable the Department to strengthen its capability by ensuring that the skills profile of staff remains compatible with changing business needs.

Small Businesses

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers are available to local authorities to provide business rate relief to assist small businesses.

John Healey: Small Business Rate Relief is available for those ratepayers that meet the eligibility criteria in properties under £15,000 rateable value (or £21,500 in London). In addition rural rate relief is available for village food shops, and single petrol stations or public houses in designated rural areas, providing they meet eligibility criteria.
	Local authorities also have the power to grant relief to Charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs and other non-profit making organisations that may benefit the community as well as to support businesses in cases of hardship.

Small Businesses

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government has taken to ensure that local authorities pass on the reduction in the rate of value added tax to small businesses and council tax payers.

John Healey: The Government expect all councils to pass on the full cut in VAT where it makes financial sense to do so. In cases where the cost of implementing the change would outweigh the financial benefit, authorities may wish to use savings in other ways, such as to improve services or keep council tax down. In such cases authorities should be transparent about how the funds are being used.

Sustainable Development: Public Participation

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued on whether panels of representatives of local persons set up under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 can include elected councillors.

John Healey: Statutory guidance on the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 was published in July 2008 which can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/strongsafeprosperous

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers a waste collection authority has to fine households who put waste out at times other than those specified by the authority.

Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
	Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA) provides powers to local authorities to specify the conditions of the waste collection service they operate and requires them to inform the recipients of the service of those conditions by way of a "section 46 notice".
	Breach of the terms of that notice would normally be met with advice to the householder.
	Only if the event of serious and persistent breach of the order causing a serious nuisance would powers provided by EPA 1990 s46(6) or the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (CNEA) be acted upon.

JUSTICE

Charities

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice to which  (a) charities and  (b) voluntary organisations his Department has provided funding in the last five years; and how much funding was provided to each.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice, created in May 2007, has collected information on direct funding to the third sector for the financial years from 2006-08.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2006-07 37.6 
			 2007-08 41.1 
		
	
	A full breakdown of the organisations funded over the past two years is shown in the following tables. These cover a wide range of organisations helping the Department deliver services in areas such as criminal and civil court services, legal aid and services for victims and witnesses. They include grant funding and contracting arrangements.
	
		
			  Ministry of Justice funding to third sector organisations 2006-07( 1) 
			  Name of third sector organisation  Funding (£) 
			 Addaction 10,120 
			 Advice Services Alliance 185,000 
			 Anawim 24,828 
			 Arch (North Staffordshire) 28,000 
			 Aylesbury Vale Rape Crisis 24,300 
			 Barnardo's Bridgeway 30,000 
			 Barnardos Ilford 28,500 
			 Barnsley Refuge Advice and Support Service (BRASS) 22,900 
			 Black Arts Alliance 18,820 
			 Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Service 30,000 
			 British Youth Council 9,000 
			 Butler Trust 46,112 
			 Catch 21 750 
			 Cheshire Dance 26,303 
			 Citizenship Foundation 122,000 
			 Clinks/Alliance to Reduce Offending (ARO) 65,000 
			 Colchester Rape Crisis Line 30,000 
			 Community Service Volunteers (CSV) Pre-Release Volunteer Scheme 150,000 
			 Connection at St Martin 23,008 
			 Coroners Courts Support Service for expansion to Essex (Chelmsford) Coroners court 3,000 
			 Coroners Courts Support Service for expansion to Walthamstow, Hornsey and Croydon coroners courts 6,000 
			 CSV/Springboard Sunderland Trust 406,500 
			 Dance Utd 11,159 
			 Derby CAB 11,593 
			 Development Education Association 4,400 
			 Devon Youth Association 30,000 
			 Devon Youth Association 30,000 
			 Doncaster Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre 30,000 
			 Eaves Housing for Women 30,000 
			 Gay London Police Monitoring Group (Galop) 28,084 
			 Genesis 27,400 
			 Gloucestshire Rape Crisis Centre 10,000 
			 Grimsby and Scunthorpe Rape Crisis 29,930 
			 Hansard Society 128,060 
			 Health and Education for all (HEAL) 13,572 
			 Hibiscus 47,208 
			 Incest and Sexual Abuse Survivors 28,893 
			 Involve 32,213 
			 Kinergy 30,000 
			 Kings College 10,000 
			 Leasehold Advisory Service 28,000 
			 Lincolnshire Action Trust 31,500 
			 Magistrates' Association 50,000 
			 Mediation Helpline 115,000 
			 Minorities of Europe 5,000 
			 Miscarriages of Justice—Royal Justice CAB 104,945 
			 Money Advice Trust 800,000 
			 Music in Prisons/Irene Taylor Trust 13,297 
			 National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) 2,356,777 
			 National Children's Home (NCH) Cymru 30,000 
			 Network for Surviving Stalking (NASS) 29,961 
			 New Pathways 30,000 
			 North Liverpool Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) 45,140 
			 Nottingham Rape Crisis Centre 30,000 
			 One in Four 29,824 
			 Operation Black Vote 90,000 
			 Personal Support Unit 50,000 
			 Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) 90,000 
			 Prison Video Trust 50,000 
			 Prisoners Abroad 169,126 
			 Probocsis 9,988 
			 Rape and Sexual Violence Project 30,000 
			 Rape Crisis Crisis Co-ordination Group 30,000 
			 Reigate and Redhill YMCA 25,948 
			 Respond 28,000 
			 Reunite 85,000 
			 ROSA (Rape or Sexual Abuse) Support Group 30,000 
			 South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centre 30,000 
			 South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau 9,078 
			 Southside Partnership 45,000 
			 Step Forward (Tower Hamlets) 30,000 
			 Support After Murder and Manslaughter (SAMM) 140,000 
			 Supporting Others through Voluntary Action (SOVA) 540,136 
			 Survivors Swindon Limited 30,000 
			 Target Housing 30,000 
			 Terrence Higgins Trust 29,489 
			 The Nia Project 30,000 
			 The Phoenix Education Trust 8,000 
			 The Survivors Trust 29,807 
			 The Winchester Centre 30,000 
			 Twelves Company 29,907 
			 Tyneside Rape Crisis Centre 29,988 
			 UK Citizens Online Democracy 11,750 
			 Victim Support 30,025,667 
			 Victim Support Cornwall for start up of Coroners Court support Service in Cornwall 2,000 
			 Victim support Norfolk for Coroners Courts Support Service in Norfolk coroner courts 3,000 
			 Victim Support Teesside for Coroners Court Support Service in Teesside coroners court 2,000 
			 Voice UK 30,000 
			 Wandsworth Mediation Service 86,000 
			 Womankind 30,000 
			 Women's Counselling & Therapy Service 29,707 
			 Women's Support Network 30,000 
			 Wycombe Rape Crisis 26,750 
			 Young Foundation 10,000 
			 Young Person's Advisory Service 23,100 
			 Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) 29,979 
			 Total 37,591,517 
			 (1) Figures include funding by the Office of Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) 
		
	
	
		
			  Ministry of Justice funding to third sector organisations 2007-08( 1) 
			  Name of third sector organisation  Funding (£) 
			 Addaction 10,000 
			 Advance 20,000 
			 Advice Services Alliance 195,000 
			 Anawim 24,671 
			 Arch North Staffordshire and Safer City Partnership IDVA for Stoke on Trent 20,000 
			 Bedfordshire Independent Domestic Violence Advisors (IDVA): Victim Support (providers) 20,000 
			 Berkshire Women's Aid (and Crossing Bridges) 40,000 
			 Birmingham and Solihull Women's Aid 60,000 
			 Blackburn and Darwen District Women's Aid 20,000 
			 Blackpool and Fylde Advocacy Service 20,000 
			 Blackpool Advocacy Service 20,000 
			 Blaenau Gwent Domestic Abuse Service 20,000 
			 Bradford Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Survivors Service 45,106 
			 Brent Domestic Violence Advocacy Project (Advance) 20,000 
			 Bridgend Women's Aid 20,000 
			 Brighton and Hove IDVA Service' 30,000 
			 Bristol DA IDVA Consortium 20,000 
			 Butler Trust 63,969 
			 Caerphilly County borough council 20,000 
			 Calderdale Domestic Violence Forum. 20,000 
			 Caldmore Area Housing Association 31,485 
			 Cambs IDVA Advocacy Service 20,000 
			 Carmarthanshire IDDA Service (hosted by Cymdeithas Tai Hafan) 20,000 
			 Catch 21 5,000 
			 Centre for Peaceful solutions 17,000 
			 Cheshire County Council Western Domestic Abuse Family Safety Unit 20,000 
			 Children Law UK 50,000 
			 Chorley and South Ribble Service 20,000 
			 Cis'ters 37,088 
			 Citizenship Foundation 100,000 
			 Clinks/Alliance to Reduce Offending (ARO) 69,720 
			 Colchester Rape Crisis Line 21,931 
			 Community Safety and Prevention Service 20,000 
			 Community Service Volunteers (CSV) Pre-release Volunteer Scheme 150,000 
			 Coroners Courts Support Service for expansion to Buckinghamshire coroner's court 3,000 
			 Coroners Courts Support Service for expansion to Hertfordshire coroners court 3,000 
			 Coroners Courts Support Service for expansion to Milton Keynes coroner's court 3,000 
			 County Council Community Safety Domestic Violence Team 30,000 
			 County Durham and Darlington Probation 20,000 
			 Coventry Haven 20,000 
			 Coventry Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre 35,424 
			 Crime Reduction Initiative (CRI) Domestic Abuse Service 30,000 
			 Crisis Point 15,368 
			 Croydon Women's Aid and Family Justice Centre (FJC) 20,000 
			 CSV Springboard 417,000 
			 DA Resource Team (DART) 20,000 
			 Democracy Coalition for Children & Young People 11,000 
			 Derby CAB 11,245 
			 Derby CSP 20,000 
			 Derbyshire Rape Crisis 19,450 
			 Domestic Violence Family Safety Unit and Eastern Domestic Abuse Family Safety Unit 20,000 
			 Domestic Violence Services, Keighley (and Airdale) 20,000 
			 Domestic Violence Support Service 20,000 
			 Doncaster Rape and Sexual abuse 44,607 
			 Early Intervention Project 20,000 
			 East Berkshire Womens Aid 40,000 
			 East Riding Yorks Council: Domestic Violence Accommodation Project (DVAP) 20,000 
			 Eaves Lilith Project 30,104 
			 English Secondary Students Association 13,454 
			 Essex Probation Service 40,000 
			 Eva Women's Aid previously Redcar and Cleveland Women's Aid 41,724 
			 Exeter Women's Aid 20,000 
			 Family Matters 20,000 
			 Family Matters 20,000 
			 Gay London Police Monitoring Group (Galop) 35,122 
			 Gloucester Domestic Violence Support and Advocacy Project (GDVSAP) 20,000 
			 Hansard Society 86,841 
			 Harbour Central Services 20,000 
			 Harrow Hestia Women's Aid 20,000 
			 Heal 38,038 
			 Health and Social Care Department/Chief Executives 20,000 
			 Help, Advice and the Law Team (HALT) 40,000 
			 Hibiscus 46,645 
			 Highbury and Islington IDVA 20,000 
			 Hillingdon IDVA 20,000 
			 Impact Housing Association 20,000 
			 Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service 20,000 
			 Interactive Rhyl Ltd 20,000 
			 Involve 70,592 
			 Island Womens Refuge 20,000 
			 Its My Right; Scunthorpe Rape Crisis 40,000 
			 Kingston upon Hull City Council: Hull DA Partnership 20,000 
			 Knowsley Domestic Violence support service 20,000 
			 Lancaster and District Womens Aid 20,000 
			 Leeway Women's Aid 20,000 
			 Leicester Domestic Violence Integrated Response Project (DVIRP) 40,000 
			 Lincoln Womens Aid 20,000 
			 Lincolnshire Action Trust 30,104 
			 Luton Independent DA Advisors 20,000 
			 Magistrates Association 55,000 
			 Manchester Rape Crisis 25,635 
			 Mansfield and Ashfield Womens Aid 20,000 
			 Milton Keynes Womens Aid 20,000 
			 Miscarriages of Justice—Royal Justice CAB 116,493 
			 Money Advice Trust 1,000,000 
			 Monmouthshire County Council 20,000 
			 Move On East 22,290 
			 Mubarek Trust 53,000 
			 Multi Agency Problem Solving (MAPS) Team; East Lancashire Women's Refuge Association in Partnership with Burnley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) 20,000 
			 My Sisters place: 20,000 
			 mysociety 17,626 
			 N Derbs WA, Derbs VS, Next Steps multi-agency IDVA service 20,000 
			 Nacro 2,413,104 
			 Neath Women's Aid 20,000 
			 New Pathway 23,660 
			 Newport City Council 20,000 
			 No Limits (Southampton) 26,000 
			 North Devon Womens Aid 20,000 
			 North Eastern Prison After Care Society (NEPACS) 33,657 
			 North Liverpool Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) 61,930 
			 North Somerset Against Domestic Abuse (NADA) and North Somerset Partnership 20,000 
			 Northampton and Northern Sunflower Centres 30,000 
			 Northamptonshire Rape and incest Crisis Centre 20,000 
			 Nottingham Rape Crisis Centre 41,108 
			 One in Four 48,510 
			 Operation Black Vote 70,000 
			 Ormiston Children and Families Trust 29,000 
			 Partners of Prisoners and Families Support 28,275 
			 Pathway (Stonham and Kiaura) 20,000 
			 Pecan 28,275 
			 Personal Support Unit 50,000 
			 Peterborough City Council 20,000 
			 Plymouth Rape and Sexual Abuse Line 12,450 
			 Plymouth Womens Aid 20,000 
			 Pontypridd Safety Unit 20,000 
			 Positive Action Training Recruitment Agency (PATRA) 20,240 
			 Preston Independent DA Service 20,000 
			 Prison Video Trust 50,000 
			 Prisoners Abroad 233,167 
			 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (Cheshire and Merseyside) 35,370 
			 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (North Wales) 25,525 
			 Rape and Sexual violence Project (Birmingham) 21,090 
			 RASAC-Rape and Sexual abuse Counselling Service (Winchester) 26,000 
			 Reducing the Risk of Domestic Abuse (both Oxfords) 30,000 
			 Refuge Kent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service 80,000 
			 Registry Trust 120,000 
			 Respond 50,000 
			 Reunite 131,500 
			 Rotherham Womens Aid 20,000 
			 Safe(5)Home 20,000 
			 Safer Doncaster Partnership with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council 20,000 
			 Salford Foundation 10,000 
			 Salford Women's Aid 20,000 
			 Sandwell Organisation Against Domestic Abuse (SOADA) 20,000 
			 Sexual & Domestic Abuse and Rape advice Centre 15,250 
			 Sexual Abuse and Incest Line (SAIL) 17,767 
			 Sheffield DA Forum 20,000 
			 Sheffield Women's Counselling 18,672 
			 Shropshire IDVA Service (Stonham) 20,000 
			 Solent Peoples Theatre 44,868 
			 Somerset Change 40,000 
			 South Asian Consortium Kirklees 36,117 
			 South Devon Womens Aid 20,000 
			 South Essex Rape and Incest Crisis Centres (SERICC) 49,291 
			 Southampton IDVA Service 35,000 
			 Southampton Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Counselling Service 47,804 
			 Southside Family Project 20,000 
			 Southside Partnership 45,000 
			 Speaker's Corner Trust 17,625 
			 Stafford Women's Aid - also serves Stafford SDVC 20,000 
			 Star Centre 20,000 
			 Step Forward 32,190 
			 Stonham 40,000 
			 Suffolk County Council 20,000 
			 Sunflower Centre 20,000 
			 Support After Murder and Manslaughter (SAMM) 140,000 
			 Supporting Others through Voluntary Action (SOVA) 548,773 
			 Survive 20,000 
			 Survivor's Network 10,406 
			 Survivors Swindon Limited 35,900 
			 Survivors UK 30,000 
			 Swansea Women's Aid / Black Association for Women Step Out (BAWSO) 20,000 
			 Tai Hafan 20,000 
			 Target Housing 30,000 
			 Telford IDVA 20,000 
			 The Relationship Centre 20,000 
			 The Relationship Centre 20,000 
			 Torbay Victim Support IDVA Service 20,000 
			 Torfaen County Borough Council 20,000 
			 Twelves Company 35,827 
			 UK Youth Parliament 3,000 
			 UK Youth Parliament 12,000 
			 Unlocking Democracy 7,938 
			 Vale of Glamorgan IDA 20,000 
			 Victim Support 30,028,000 
			 Victim Support (York and Selby) 20,000 
			 Victim Support Hampshire and Isle of Wight 20,000 
			 Victim Support Wiltshire 40,000 
			 Victim Support: Barnsley SDVC 20,000 
			 Victim Support: Dudley SDVC 20,000 
			 Victim Support: North East Hants (Alton) SDVC 20,000 
			 Victim Support: South Cumbria (Barrow and Kendal) 20,000 
			 Victim Support: West Cumbria (Workington and Whitehaven) 20,000 
			 Voice UK 28,000 
			 Walsall Domestic Violence Forum 30,000 
			 Walsall Street Teams 30,000 
			 Wandsworth Mediation Service 104.000 
			 Warrington DA Support Service 20,000 
			 Wearside Women in Need 20,000 
			 Wirral Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (SDVC)—Community Safety Team 20,000 
			 Wolverhampton Domestic Violence Forum 20,000 
			 Womankind 41,202 
			 Womans Trust 20,000 
			 Womans Trust (Domestic Violence Advocacy Service) 20,000 
			 Women Against Violence Europe (W.A.V.E) Domestic Abuse Centre 20,000 
			 Women Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre Cornwall 32,416 
			 Womens Aid (Previously North Yorks Victim Support) 20,000 
			 Women's Aid Advice Centre 20,000 
			 Womens Aid Leicestershire Limited (WALL) 20,000 
			 Womens Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre IDVA Service 20,000 
			 Women's Safety Unit 20,000 
			 Women's Support Network 28,038 
			 Worcestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre 28,445 
			 Worst Kept Secret 20,000 
			 Wrexham IDVA Service (Community Safety Partnerships) 20,000 
			 Total 41,118,268 
			 (1) Figures include funding by the Office of Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR)

Departmental Temporary Employment

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent by his Department on  (a) agency and  (b) temporary staff in each financial year since its inception.

Maria Eagle: Expenditure by Departments on agency and temporary staff costs has been disclosed in departmental resource accounts since 2005-06.
	The Ministry of Justice was established on 9 May 2007. The Ministry's first set of resource accounts for 2007-08 reported expenditure for the whole of the new Department as if it had existed since 1 April 2007 i.e. for the former Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and the Office of Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR). Expenditure prior to 2007-08 is disclosed within the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and Home Office resource accounts. It is only possible to disaggregate expenditure by NOMS and OCJR from the Home Office's accounts at disproportionate cost.
	On this basis, expenditure on agency and temporary staff is as follows:
	2007-08: Ministry of Justice—£137.4million (including NOMS and OCJR)
	2006-07: DCA—£53.4 million
	2005-06: DCA—£67.6 million
	Expenditure on agency and temporary staff costs in the financial year 2008-09 has not been reported as the Ministry does not yet have full year audited figures to report. The use of temporary staff is something that the Ministry considers appropriate to cover short-term needs on a temporary basis.

HM Courts Service: Finance

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 512W, on HM Courts Service: finance, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of his Department's  (a) estimate and  (b) assumptions against the actual volume of cases handled.

Jack Straw: The assessment of the accuracy of the assumptions and estimated income is revisited in the current financial year and is based on recent volatility of and identifiable trends in the volumes of cases in past and current years. Using prior year volumes, based on historical actuals, and multiplying the total by the fee charge provides the basis of the fee income forecast for the financial year. In addition the impact, on the forecasted fee income, is adjusted to take into account known impacts from proposed changes to fee policy in the coming year, for example new fee charges. Throughout the year the fee income forecast and the assumptions against volume are revisited on a monthly basis, using actual data captured. Any substantial changes to volume trends, that can be identified, are factored in and adjustments made to the income forecast.

Legal Services Commission: Wales

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had on the future of the Legal Services Commission in Wales with  (a) the Secretary of State for Wales and  (b) the First Minister; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: My noble Friend Lord Bach, Minister for Legal Aid, has briefly discussed this matter with the First Minister for Wales. He has also corresponded with Brian Gibbons AM, the relevant Welsh Assembly Minister, as well as with Wales Office Ministers.
	My noble Friend and I will continue to work closely with the Welsh Assembly Government, the Wales Office and the Legal Services Commission to ensure that the final decisions on the Commission's efficiency savings take full account of the needs of Wales.

Monarchy: Succession

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the status of the UK's reservation to Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention on the legal status of children born out of wedlock is in respect of matters relating to succession to the Crown; what attempts were made to renew the reservation in or prior to September 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The reservation referred to is in fact a declaration. When renewing other UK reservations to this convention, we have also taken the opportunity to reaffirm our understanding of the meaning of Articles 9 and 10. The UK reservations to the Convention were originally made in 1981, and were renewed in 1986, 1994, 1991 and 2002.

Offences against Children

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many offenders  (a) aged 18 years or over and  (b) aged 21 years or over received a caution for sexual activity with a child under 13 in the last year for which data are available;
	(2)  what proportion of offenders  (a) aged 18 years or over and  (b) aged 21 years or over convicted of sexual activity with a child under 13 received (i) immediate custody, (ii) a suspended sentence, (iii) a community sentence, (iv) a fine, (v) a conditional or absolute discharge and (vi) other treatment in the last year for which data are available;
	(3)  what the average custodial sentence for those convicted of  (a) rape of a female aged under 16 years,  (b) rape of a male aged under 16 years,  (c) rape of a female aged under 13 years and  (d) rape of a male aged under 13 years was in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: Information on the number of offenders aged 18 to 20 and aged 21 and over cautioned for sexual activity with a child under 13 in England and Wales in 2007 (latest available) is contained in the following table.
	The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence.
	
		
			  Number of offenders aged 18 to 20 and 21 years and over cautioned for offences relating to sexual activity with a child aged under 13( 1) , England and Wales, 2007( 2,3) 
			   Number 
			 Aged 18-20 20 
			 Aged 21 and over 64 
			 (1) Includes the following statutes under the Sexual Offences Act 2003: Sections 5, 6, 7, 8 (1)(2) and (3), 9 (1)(a)(b)(c)(ii) and (2) and (3). 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)(ii) and (3), 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(ii) and (2). 12 (1)(a)(b)(c)(ii) and 2, 25 (1)(e)(ii) and (2)-(4)(a)(b). 49 (1)(a)(b)(ii) and (2) (2) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source. Evidence and Analysis Unit—Office for Criminal Justice Reform 
		
	
	The following table shows the proportion of offenders  (a) aged 18 or over and  (b) aged 21 years or over convicted of sexual activity with a child under 13.
	
		
			  Proportion of offenders given disposals for sexual activity with a child under 13, by age of offender, 2007 
			  Age of offender  Immediate custody (percentage)  Suspended sentence (percentage)Age  Community sentence (percentage)  Fine (percentage)  Conditional or absolute discharge (percentage)  Otherwise dealt with (percentage)  Total sentenced 
			 Offenders aged between 18 and 20 72.7 9.1 16.0 0.0 1.2 0.9 581 
			 Offenders aged 21 or over 74.3 8.8 15 3 0.0 0.8 0.8 498 
			  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	The proportion of those given various disposals is shown as a percentage of those sentenced. Lags in time between conviction and sentencing may mean that the total numbers convicted and sentenced in a year may not match.
	The average custodial sentence for the rape of males and females under the age of 16 and 13 is contained in the following table.
	
		
			  Average custodial sentence length (ACSL)( 1)  and number of determinate and indeterminate custodial sentences for rape of females and males under 13 and 16, 2007 
			   ACSL (months)  Indeterminate custodial sentences  Determinate custodial sentences 
			 Rape of a female under 16 108.2 38 193 
			 Rape of a male under 16 88.5 5 15 
			 Rape of a female under 13 73.5 21 52 
			 Rape of a male under 13 50.3 15 13 
			 1 ACSL excludes life/indeterminate sentences.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	When calculating average custodial sentence length only determinate custodial sentences are included. This may have the effect of making the ASCL appear lower for offences where a larger proportion of offenders are given indeterminate sentences.

Office for Criminal Justice Reform: Costs

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much the monthly updates on the Criminal Justice System produced for the Prime Minister by the Criminal Justice Evidence and Analysis Unit of the Office of Criminal Justice Reform cost to produce in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will publish each of the monthly performance updates produced in 2007 and 2008.

Maria Eagle: This regular monthly report is no longer produced. The last report was submitted in March 2008. The reports will not be published as they contain policy advice which is covered by an exemption under the Freedom of Information Act Section (s36 2 (b) (i)).
	Production costs are only available in respect of staff time undertaken each month to produce the report and as such it is not possible to provide an accurate or precise breakdown of these amounts.

Prisons: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  on what date his Department plans to open the new prison in Caernarfon;
	(2)  how many prison places there will be in the new prison at Caernarfon.

David Hanson: Decisions on the size of the new prison at Caernarfon and the operational date will be taken at a later date.
	Negotiations with the owner, confirmation that contamination on the site will not impede a prison development, and a successful application for outline planning permission will be the key issues on panel time scales.

Rape: Civil Proceedings

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many rape cases  (a) reached court and  (b) ended in the acquittal of the defendant in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and acquitted at all courts for offences relating to rape, in England and Wales, 2003 to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and acquitted at all courts for offences relating to rape,  in England and Wales, 2003-07( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   Proceeded against  Acquitted at all courts  Proceeded against  Acquitted at all courts  Proceeded against  Acquitted at all courts  Proceeded against  Acquitted at all courts  Proceeded against  Acquitted at all courts 
			 Absolute rape 2,550 1,023 2,453 966 2,558 1,021 2,335 982 2,138 885 
			 Attempted rape 231 117 236 96 267 91 232 101 224 102 
			 Total 2,781 1,140 2,689 1,062 2,825 1,112 2,567 1,083 2,362 987 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Includes the following statutes: Sexual Offences Act 2003 s.l and 5 (4) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force on 1 May 2004 and repeals previous Sexual Offences Acts. (5) Acquitted at all courts refers to: Proceedings discontinued, discharged, withdrawn, and dismissed at magistrates courts, and acquitted at crown court (6) The number acquitted may include those prosecuted in previous years  Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit—Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Re-offenders

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the re-offending rates in the 12 months following release were of inmates from  (a) Oakhill,  (b) Medway,  (c) Rainsbrook and  (d) Hassockfield secure training centre in the latest period for which information is available.

David Hanson: Data are not available for the re-offending rates of young offenders released from individual secure training centres. Individual establishment names are not included in the datasets used to produce the re-offending statistics.
	However, information on the rate of re-offending for all young offenders released from custody (either from Young Offender Institutions, Secure Training Centres or Secure Children's Homes) is available, covering the period 2000 to 2006. These data are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Quarter 1 each year :  Number of offenders  Proportion of offenders re-offending (one year)  Number of offences per 100 offenders (one year) 
			 2000 912 75.7 482.1 
			 2002 959 72.9 465.9 
			 2003 786 73.8 442.5 
			 2004 815 76.4 414.8 
			 2005 844 73.1 409.5 
			 2006 817 77.0 404.0 
		
	
	The latest re-offending statistics for juveniles, 'Re-offending of juveniles: results from the 2006 cohort', were published in September 2008 and can be obtained from:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingjuveniles.htm

Secure Training Centres: Young People

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons under 16 years old were released from secure training centres in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of those returned to full-time education upon release in each such year.

David Hanson: The following table shows the numbers of sentenced young people aged under 16 who have been released from secure training centres in the last three years. These statistics have been provided by the YJB.
	
		
			  Sentenced young people under 16 released from STCs 
			   Number 
			 2006 309 
			 2007 293 
			 2008 321 
		
	
	Data on the number of young people aged under 16 who return to full-time education on release from secure training centres are not available.

Youth Custody

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons aged 16 to 21 were released from custody other than from secure training centres and secure children's homes in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what percentage of those  (a) entered employment and  (b) returned to education or training upon release in each such year.

David Hanson: Data of this nature are only available by entire establishment type and it is not possible to separate out specific age groups.
	The National Offender Management Service did not start recording employment and education/training data separately until April 2007. The following table shows data for 2007-08 and for April 2008 to December 2008 (latest available figures(1)).
	(1) Data is provisional and subject to ongoing validation.
	Counting rules for discharge data changed in 2007-08 and are not comparable with previous years
	
		
			   Number of prisoners discharged( 1)  Percentage of prisoners discharged with employment  Percentage of prisoners discharged with education or training 
			   April 2007 to March 2008  April 2008 to December 2008  April 2007 to March 2008  April 2008 to December 2008  April 2007 to March 2008  April 2008 to December 2008 
			 Prisons holding  15 to 17-year-olds 3,028 2,185 5.2 5.4 54.9 53.1 
			 Prisons holding  18 to 20-year-olds 5,372 4,590 26.3 26.9 14.2 14.5 
			 Prisons holding both 15 to 17-year-olds and 18 to 20-year-olds 4,040 3,220 17.8 17.8 26.4 30.3 
			 (1) Exclude temporary releases or prisoners that are deported upon release.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Building Schools for the Future Programme

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much capital spending has been brought forward by his Department to  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10 for (i) Building Schools for the Future and (ii) all other capital spending; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department is bringing forward capital allocations from 2010-11 to 2009-10 as part of its contribution to the £3 billion government-wide stimulus programme described in the pre-Budget report.
	BSF typically involves the design and build of entire new schools which are less suitable for bringing forward quickly for construction in a 12 month period. The pipeline of business for BSF, however, continues to increase as planned. The Department is already committed to ensure build takes place as rapidly as possible, and it has not been practicable to accelerate this further.
	It is planned to bring forward other capital allocations amounting to approximately £800 million from 2010-11 to 2009-10. The mix of programmes making this up will be determined by replies received from local authorities.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 29 January,  Official Report, columns 833-34W, on children: databases, how much of such spending was incurred in each local authority area in each year.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 February 2009
	 I will make available a document which sets out grants provided to local authorities covering the period 2005/06 to 2009/10. Grants have yet to be decided for the financial years 2010/11 and 2011/12. This document will placed be in the Libraries.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of staff in child care settings have achieved GCSE English grade C or above.

Beverley Hughes: The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collects information about the qualifications held by all paid staff working for child care and early years providers. The questionnaire is designed to pick up only qualifications that were relevant to working with young people and children. Qualifications are grouped together in the levels that they have been accredited with by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Level 2 (intermediate level) refers to GCSE A*-C, Intermediate GNVQ, and Level 2 NVQ. Separate data for GCSE English A*-C is not available.
	Tables 1 and 2 show the proportion of all paid staff qualified to at least Level 2, by type of provision, for 2007.
	
		
			  Table 1: Staff qualified to at least Level 2 for all paid staff 
			   Percentage 
			 Full day care 88 
			 Full day care in children's centres 92 
			 Sessional 79 
			 After school clubs 75 
			 Holiday clubs 75 
			 Childminders 49 
			  Base: All paid childcare staff 2007. All childminders 2007. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Staff qualified to at least Level 2 for all paid staff 
			   Percentage 
			 Nursery schools 91 
			 Primary schools with nursery and reception classes 85 
			 Primary schools with reception but no nursery classes 82 
			  Base: All paid early years staff 2007.

Children: Protection

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of  (a) child protection and  (b) looked-after children reviews were held within the required timescales in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: In the year ending 31 March 2008, 99 per cent. of child protection cases were reviewed within required timescales. This figure has been taken from the statistical first release "Referrals, Assessments and Children and Young People who are the subject of a Child Protection Plan, England—year ending 31 March 2008", which can be found at the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000811/index.shtml.
	In the year ending 31 March 2007, 85.3 per cent. of looked-after children reviews were held within the required time scales. This figure have been taken from the statistical first release "Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007", which can be found at the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml.
	This figure for the year ending March 2008 is not yet available and will be published as soon as possible in the following location on the DCSF website:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000810/index.shtml.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2009,  Official Report, column 837W, on children: protection, if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 February 2009
	The letter has been placed in the Libraries.
	 Letter from Beverley Hughes, dated 29 January 2009:
	I have seen the final Annual Performance Assessment (APA) letter for Birmingham, which was published by Ofsted on 17 December 2008.
	I was very concerned to see that inspectors have identified a number of issues around safeguarding services for children and young people in Birmingham and judged the "Staying Safe" strand to be inadequate. I am also concerned that four out of five Serious Case Reviews have recently been judged to be inadequate by Ofsted.
	I recognise that you have taken a series of actions since April 2008 to address weaknesses in your children's social care service. I welcome that you have decided to personally chair a Task Force to address the weaknesses identified and to drive forward improvements in children's social care. I would like your Children's Services Adviser in the Government Office for the West Midlands, Kay Whyte-Bell, to be a member of this Task Force. She will report to me monthly on progress. I am also pleased that you are receiving support from your Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership to appoint an Assistant Director to your new management structure.
	However, given the critical importance of managing risks to children's safety and the need to ensure that progress is made swiftly and decisively, I have instructed my officials to work with Birmingham to provide a package of intervention support. This package will consist of:
	Bringing in an additional two interim Assistant Directors for your safeguarding service, as per your new management structure, through my Department's Children's Services Improvement Framework. The Department will contribute 50% of the costs towards these interim posts. GOWM will quality-assure the procurement process. I have also requested that they quality-assure the potential candidates for your Service Director post and your third Assistant Director post, for which you have received funding from your Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership.
	A small team of external consultants to conduct a root-and-branch review of the Local Safeguarding Children's Board (LSCB) and provide recommendations on its operation and structure. This review will look closely at the organisation of Serious Case Reviews and whether changes need to be made to the handling of such cases. This team will also work with middle managers in your Duty and Assessment team and other front-line social care teams to develop performance management systems to ensure current work is on track and meeting requirements that will lead to the improvements necessary.
	Enhanced monitoring from GOWM. I understand the Children's Services Adviser and Social Care Specialist Support Manager are receiving fortnightly progress reports regarding your Serious Case Reviews and the Secretary of State's commission to review SCRs judged inadequate by Ofsted. I have asked for progress on SCRs to be included in the monthly reports that will be provided to me by the Children's Services Adviser.
	I am keen to see swift improvements in Birmingham and for children, young people and families to receive the service they deserve. 1 have decided therefore to underpin the improvement measures and progress I expect with an Improvement Notice. This will give Birmingham City Council twelve months to demonstrate robust and sustained progress, with a review after six months. Should improvement not be sufficient at either six or twelve months, I will need to consider the use of statutory powers to direct a solution. 1 am sure you will understand the necessity of this course of action, given we are dealing with safeguarding provision for vulnerable children and young people. My officials will be in touch shortly to discuss a draft Improvement Notice before I formally issue the Notice to the Council.
	I know that we share a commitment to delivering improved outcomes for Birmingham's children and young people. It is vital now that we work together in order to achieve that goal.
	I am copying this letter to Councillor Les Lawrence (Lead Member for Children, Young People and Families), Stephen Hughes (Chief executive) and the Director of Children's Services (Tony Howell). A copy will also be circulated to local MPs.

Connexions Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which Catholic schools host the Connexions service; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The provision of Connexions services in schools is the responsibility of local authorities. We do not keep a central record of what advice is provided by Connexions Services to any particular school.

Education Maintenance Allowance: Telephone Services

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the merits of establishing a dedicated telephone line for hon. Members to call regarding the education maintenance allowance.

Jim Knight: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families has given no consideration to establishing a dedicated telephone line for hon. Members to call regarding issues with the education maintenance allowance. issues that are raised directly with the Department for Children, Schools and Families by hon. Members are referred to the Learning and Skills Council. The Learning and Skills Council has operational responsibility for the education maintenance allowance.

Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether it is the Government's policy that education spending should continue to rise as a share of gross domestic product; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The proportion of GDP being spent on education across the current period, 2008-11, was determined during comprehensive spending review 2007. There are no plans to change current levels of funding. The proportion of GDP to be committed to education thereafter will be determined by the next spending review.

Educational Psychology

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many educational psychologists there were in each local authority in 2008; how many children aged 18 years or under there were per educational psychologist; and how many children and young people aged 18 years or under with (i) statemented and (ii) non-statemented special educational needs there were per educational psychologist.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The following table provides the full-time equivalent number of educational psychologists (EPs) employed by each local authority in England in January 2008, the number of these per child aged 18 or under and the number per pupil in local authority maintained schools with statemented and non-statemented special educational needs at that date.
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent number of educational psychologists (EPs) employed by local authorities, and the number of these per child aged 18 or under, per child in local authority maintained school with statemented and non-statemented special educational needs,  2008, England 
			   FTE educational psychologists( 1,2)  Children aged 18 or under per EP( 3)  Pupils with statement of SEN per EP( 3)  Pupils with SEN but without statement per EP( 3) 
			 England 2,123 4,830 90 580 
			  
			 Darlington 7 3,200 60 420 
			 Durham 23 4,420 100 690 
			 Gateshead 11 3,730 70 460 
			 Hartlepool 4 5,300 80 770 
			 Middlesbrough 7 4,850 130 550 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 12 4,280 70 620 
			 North Tyneside 9 4,730 100 560 
			 Northumberland 16 3,890 90 420 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 6 5,420 110 850 
			 South Tyneside 6 5,650 130 710 
			 Stockton on Tees 10 4,170 90 400 
			 Sunderland 13 4,650 90 660 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 12 3,160 50 440 
			 Blackpool 5 6,410 110 930 
			 Bolton 10 6,480 120 850 
			 Bury 8 5,340 110 520 
			 Cheshire 23 6,480 140 550 
			 Cumbria 15 6,860 130 810 
			 Halton 6 5,060 120 720 
			 Knowsley 8 4,480 90 690 
			 Lancashire 40 6,360 150 590 
			 Liverpool 16 5,580 90 1,040 
			 Manchester 17 5,660 130 800 
			 Oldham 10 5,600 80 670 
			 Rochdale 9 5,670 120 650 
			 Salford 9 5,320 90 590 
			 Sefton 22 2,720 40 330 
			 St. Helens 9 4,470 60 480 
			 Stockport 11 5,410 110 550 
			 Tameside 12 4,220 70 470 
			 Trafford 7 6,430 120 700 
			 Warrington 6 7,260 190 780 
			 Wigan 26 2,590 50 300 
			 Wirral 13 5,390 140 670 
			 Barnsley 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Bradford 19 6,480 100 1,000 
			 Calderdale 7 6,240 120 750 
			 Doncaster 9 7,340 130 870 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 13 5,140 90 510 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 10 5,810 120 710 
			 Kirklees 24 3,980 80 440 
			 Leeds 24 6,480 90 780 
			 North East Lincolnshire 3 10,700 250 1,840 
			 North Lincolnshire 8 4,350 110 610 
			 North Yorkshire 17 7,360 100. 690 
			 Rotherham 11 5,130 100 770 
			 Sheffield 18 6,100 120 900 
			 Wakefield 11 6,460 120 820 
			 York 7 5,120 60 500 
			 Derby 10 5,350 100 720 
			 Derbyshire 29 5,490 90 590 
			 Leicester 15 4,670 100 640 
			 Leicestershire 21 6,380 120 570 
			 Lincolnshire 24 5,970 160 740 
			 Northamptonshire 33 4,690 100 620 
			 Nottingham 16 3,440 30 630 
			 Nottinghamshire 25 6,490 50 790 
			 Rutland 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Birmingham 43 5,820 140 800 
			 Coventry 16 4,290 80 620 
			 Dudley 11 6,200 130 790 
			 Herefordshire 7 5,640 90 680 
			 Sandwell 16 4,300 60 620 
			 Shropshire 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Solihull 12 3,990 90 510 
			 Staffordshire 30 5,740 120 520 
			 Stoke on Trent 13 3,940 90 620 
			 Telford and Wrekin 17 2,320 60 280 
			 Walsall 11 5,290 90 580 
			 Warwickshire 17 6,580 130 770 
			 Wolverhampton 20 2,640 60 300 
			 Worcestershire 22 5,510 110 640 
			 Bedfordshire 14 6,440 130 680 
			 Cambridgeshire 3 46,430 950 4,810 
			 Essex 42 7,120 130 690 
			 Hertfordshire 42 5,860 100 620 
			 Luton 9 5,010 80 710 
			 Norfolk 24 6,980 160 880 
			 Peterborough 8 5,100 150 820 
			 Southend on Sea 7 5,000 120 570 
			 Suffolk 17 9,100 160 940 
			 Thurrock 8 4,770 110 660 
			 Camden 12 3,220 70 350 
			 City of London 0 7,700 40 940 
			 Hackney 13 3,830 70 470 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 7 4,150 90 580 
			 Haringey 12 4,050 80 620 
			 Islington 13 2,550 50 430 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 6 4,730 40 230 
			 Lambeth 15 3,390 70 470 
			 Lewisham 11 5,060 100 720 
			 Newham 12 5,190 40 830 
			 Southwark 17 3,140 80 500 
			 Tower Hamlets 17 2,840 70 440 
			 Wandsworth 14 3,250 90 510 
			 City of Westminster 9 3,680 70 520 
			 Barking and Dagenham 17 2,590 n/a n/a 
			 Barnet 13 5,700 100 710 
			 Bexley 10 5,340 120 760 
			 Brent 13 4,230 90 680 
			 Bromley 13 5,150 120 500 
			 Croydon 13 5,930 90 760 
			 Ealing 15 4,260 80 590 
			 Enfield 18 3,720 60 600 
			 Greenwich 16 3,250 90 560 
			 Harrow 11 4,450 80 530 
			 Havering 10 5,170 80 470 
			 Hillingdon 11 5,440 100 790 
			 Hounslow 13 3,700 80 610 
			 Kingston upon Thames 14 2,280 40 200 
			 Merton 7 5,470 100 550 
			 Redbridge 8 7,500 160 770 
			 Richmond upon Thames 7 5,780 100 430 
			 Sutton 10 4,410 100 500 
			 Waltham Forest 12 4,290 110 810 
			 Bracknell Forest 4 6,460 120 660 
			 Brighton and Hove 7 6,290 120 860 
			 Buckinghamshire 22 5,130 100 430 
			 East Sussex 19 5,490 100 610 
			 Hampshire 48 5,790 90 660 
			 Isle of Wight 5 5,500 90 540 
			 Kent 48 6,560 120 980 
			 Medway 7 9,200 190 1,620 
			 Milton Keynes 11 5,080 110 530 
			 Oxfordshire 26 5,260 80 510 
			 Portsmouth 7 5,270 110 840 
			 Reading 5 5,430 90 610 
			 Slough 10 3,000 70 460 
			 Southampton 11 3,930 50 660 
			 Surrey 37 6,480 120 610 
			 West Berkshire 9 4,260 100 480 
			 West Sussex 36 4,550 80 550 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 7 4,490 80 380 
			 Wokingham 3 10,550 230 830 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 7 4,890 110 450 
			 Bournemouth 8 3,720 60 450 
			 City of Bristol 40 1,950 40 200 
			 Cornwall 23 4,610 80 510 
			 Devon 35 4,190 80 470 
			 Dorset 16 5,320 80 630 
			 Gloucestershire 23 5,480 90 570 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 North Somerset 10 4,280 50 480 
			 Plymouth 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Poole 8 3,390 50 410 
			 Somerset 28 4,000 30 400 
			 South Gloucestershire 9 6,210 110 600 
			 Swindon 6 6,580 130 820 
			 Torbay 4 7,340 230 860 
			 Wiltshire 23 4,510 70 440 
			 n/a = Not applicable. (1) EPs in service including those on secondment for in service and other training. (2) Local authorities showing no EPs may acquire these services from neighbouring authorities. (3) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Form 618g survey, School Census and ONS population estimates.

English Language: Primary Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of primary school children in England did not have English as a first language in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The table shows the numbers and percentages of primary school children in England who did not have English as a first language in each year since 1997.
	
		
			  Number and percentage of primary school( 1)  children of compulsory school age and above whose first language is known or believed to be other than English ,  England ,  1997-2008 ,  position in January each year 
			   Number  Percentage( 2) 
			 1997 276,248 7.8 
			 1998 303,635 8.5 
			 1999 301,800 8.4 
			 2000 311,512 8.7 
			 2001 331,512 9.3 
			 2002 350,483 10.0 
			 2003 364,937 10.5 
			 2004 376,600 11.0 
			 2005 395,270 11.6 
			 2006 419,600 12.5 
			 2007 447,480 13.5 
			 2008(3) 470,080 14.4 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed and excludes dually registered pupils. (2) The percentage is the number of children whose first language is known or believed to be other than English expressed as a percentage of the total number of children. First language was classified as English or other than English from 1997 to 2002 and English or other than English or unclassified from 2003. (3) Provisional 
		
	
	The figures for 2003 onwards are not directly comparable with those for 1997 to 2002 because of changes to the classification.

Equality

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) steps his Department has taken and  (b) guidance his Department has issued to schools to meet the needs of pupils who are left-handed; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department has made no specific provision for left-handed children, but does issue handwriting guidance that applies equally to left and right-handed children. This includes:
	The National Strategies Primary Framework launched in October 2006 which includes a strand dedicated to presentation skills, including handwriting. This provides objectives for every year group from reception to year 6.
	The letters and sounds materials (our phonics resource) which contains general guidance on the teaching of handwriting to young children.
	These materials are guidance only and it is for schools to decide when to introduce joined-up script. There is no nationally prescribed scheme and no requirement to teach a particular style or script.

Foster Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children who left care in 2008 in each local authority area had had more than ( a) three,  (b) five,  (c) 10,  (d) 20,  (e) 30,  (f) 40 and  (g) 50 foster placements whilst they were in care.  [Official Report, 11 March 2009, Vol. 489, c. 3-10MC.]

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of children who left care in 2008 in each local authority who had more than  (a) three,  (b) five,  (c) 10,  (d) 20,  (e) 30,  (f) 40 and  (g) 50 foster placements while they were in care in England can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Children who ceased to be looked after by the number of foster placements while they were in care, by local authority( 1,2,3,4,5, ) year ending 31 March 2008 ,  Coverage: England 
			  Number 
			   Number of foster placements during time in care 
			   More than 3  More than 5  More than 10  More than 20  More than 30  More than 40  More than 50 
			  England 5,200 2,100 420 60 20 — — 
			 
			  North East 310 120 30 — — 0 0 
			 Darlington 15 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Durham 55 20 — — — 0 0 
			 Gateshead 25 5 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Hartlepool 15 5 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Middlesbrough 25 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 50 25 — 0 0 0 0 
			 North Tyneside 30 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Northumberland 30 — — 0 0 0 0 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 15 10 — — — 0 0 
			 South Tyneside 25 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 15 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Sunderland 20 — — 0 0 0 0 
			 
			  North West 750 310 50 10 10 — 0 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 25 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Blackpool 25 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bolton 35 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Bury 20 5 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 65 25 5 — — — 0 
			 Cumbria 50 25 5 — 0 0 0 
			 Halton 15 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Knowsley 30 15 5 — — 0 0 
			 Lancashire 115 55 10 — — 0 0 
			 Liverpool 60 25 — — — 0 0 
			 Manchester 85 40 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Oldham 20 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Rochdale 20 5 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Salford 25 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Sefton 10 5 — 0 0 0 0 
			 St. Helens 20 — — 0 0 0 0 
			 Stockport 20 5 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Tameside 25 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Trafford 15 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warrington 15 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wigan 25 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Wirral 40 20 — 0 0 0 0 
			 
			  Yorkshire and the Humber 530 210 40 — 0 0 0 
			 Barnsley 15 — — 0 0 0 0 
			 Bradford 65 25 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Calderdale 25 15 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Doncaster 30 15 5 0 0 0 0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 15 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 55 25 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Kirklees 20 5 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Leeds 105 50 10 — 0 0 0 
			 North East Lincolnshire 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Lincolnshire 15 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 35 10 — — 0 0 0 
			 Rotherham 40 15 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Sheffield 50 20 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Wakefield 30 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 York 20 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 
			  East Midlands 360 150 40 _ 0 0 0 
			 Derby 25 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 45 20 10 — 0 0 0 
			 Leicester 45 20 5 0 0 0 0 
			 Leicestershire 30 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 60 20 — — 0 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 65 30 10 — 0 0 0 
			 Nottingham 45 25 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 40 15 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Rutland — 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			  West Midlands 610 230 70 20 — — — 
			 Birmingham 150 55 15 — 0 0 0 
			 Coventry 50 20 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Dudley 30 15 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Herefordshire 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sandwell 45 15 10 — 0 0 0 
			 Shropshire 10 — — 0 0 0 0 
			 Solihull 20 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 65 20 5 0 0 0 0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 35 15 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Telford and Wrekin 10 5 — — 0 0 0 
			 Walsall 45 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 60 30 15 5 — — 0 
			 Wolverhampton 30 20 10 — — — — 
			 Worcestershire 45 15 — — 0 0 0 
			 
			  East of England 550 250 50 — — 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 20 5 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 20 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 160 85 25 — — 0 0 
			 Hertfordshire 60 20 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Luton 45 20 5 0 0 0 0 
			 Norfolk 85 35 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Peterborough 40 20 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Southend-on-Sea 25 15 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk 60 25 10 0 0 0 0 
			 Thurrock 30 15 — — 0 0 0 
			 
			  London 800 260 40 — 0 0 0 
			  Inner London 360 120 20 — 0 0 0 
			 Camden 20 5 — 0 0 0 0 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hackney 30 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 25 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Haringey 35 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Islington 25 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lambeth 35 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lewisham 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Newham 40 15 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Southwark 65 25 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 20 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wandsworth 25 10 — — 0 0 0 
			 Westminster 25 5 — 0 0 0 0 
			 
			  Outer London 440 140 20  0 0 0 
			 Barking and Dagenham 30 15 — — 0 0 0 
			 Barnet 30 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Bexley 20 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Brent 45 15 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Bromley 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Croydon 30 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ealing 35 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Enfield 30 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Greenwich 40 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Harrow 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Havering 20 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hillingdon 35 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Hounslow 30 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kingston upon Thames 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Merton 10 — — — 0 0 0 
			 Redbridge 15 5 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sutton 15 10 5 0 0 0 0 
			 Waltham Forest 20 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 
			  South East 730 320 60 10 — — 0 
			 Bracknell Forest 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Brighton and Hove 50 30 10 — — — 0 
			 Buckinghamshire 20 5 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Sussex 45 15 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Hampshire 140 60 10 0 0 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight 30 15 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 115 50 5 — 0 0 0 
			 Medway Towns 25 5 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Milton Keynes 35 25 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Oxfordshire 30 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Portsmouth 15 5 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Reading 10 5 — — — 0 0 
			 Slough 15 — — — 0 0 0 
			 Southampton 30 20 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 60 30 — 0 0 0 0 
			 West Berkshire 5 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Sussex 65 35 5 0 0 0 0 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wokingham 10 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 
			  South West 610 280 50 10 — 0 0 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 15 — 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bournemouth 20 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Bristol, City of 75 35 10 0 0 0 0 
			 Cornwall 70 30 — — 0 0 0 
			 Devon 75 30 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset 25 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire 50 20 10 — 0 0 0 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Somerset 30 15 — — 0 0 0 
			 Plymouth 60 25 — — — 0 0 
			 Poole 15 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Somerset 60 25 — — 0 0 0 
			 South Gloucestershire 20 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 Swindon 50 30 10 0 0 0 0 
			 Torbay 20 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wiltshire 25 10 — 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Source: SSDA903 return on children looked after. (2) Figures shown are cumulative. (3) The number of foster placements excludes any episodes of care where children were looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (4) Children who were, at the time they ceased to be looked after, were not in a foster care placement but who had previously been placed in foster care, have been included. (5) To ensure that no individual can be identified from statistical tables, we use conventions for the rounding and suppression of very small numbers. National figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 or to the nearest 10 otherwise. Numbers at local authority level have been rounded to the nearest five and numbers at region level have been rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers of five or less have been suppressed and replaced with a hyphen (—) except where the number is zero.

GCE A-level

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of students who gained an A-Level in  (a) history and  (b) geography at each grade was educated in (i) the independent sector and (ii) the state sector in each year since 2005.

Jim Knight: The information requested is presented in the following tables:
	
		
			  Proportion of 16-18 year old candidates gaining each grade in A-level history who were educated in the state and independent sectors, 2005 - 08 
			   Grade 
			  History  A  B  C  D  E  Other  Total 
			  2005
			 Number of candidates 9,143 10,243 9,731 6,454 2,918 709 39,198 
			 Percentage educated in state sector 65 79 88 94 97 96 82 
			 Percentage educated in independent sector 35 21 12 6 3 4 18 
			 
			  2006
			 Number of candidates 9,909 10,658 9,839 6,650 2,896 721 40,673 
			 Percentage educated in state sector 67 79 89 94 97 96 82 
			 Percentage educated in independent sector 33 21 11 6 3 4 18 
			 
			  2007
			 Number of candidates 10,178 10,843 9,708 6,562 2,661 590 40,542 
			 Percentage educated in state sector 67 80 89 94 96 98 82 
			 Percentage educated in independent sector 33 20 11 6 4 2 18 
			 
			  2008
			 Number of candidates 10,456 11,828 10,568 6,370 2,396 457 42,075 
			 Percentage educated in state sector 67 80 89 94 96 97 82 
			 Percentage educated in independent sector 33 20 11 6 4 3 18 
		
	
	
		
			  Proportion of 16-18 year old candidates gaining each grade in A-level geography who were educated in the state and independent sectors, 2005 - 08 
			   Grade 
			  Geography  A  B  C  D  E  Other  Total 
			  2005
			 Number of candidates 6,976 7,367 6,872 4,662 2,072 434 28,383 
			 Percentage educated in state sector 66 79 86 92 94 92 81 
			 Percentage educated in independent sector 34 21 14 8 6 8 19 
			  2006
			 Number of candidates 7,367 7,464 6,808 4,425 1,874 345 28,283 
			 Percentage educated in state sector 67 79 86 92 94 94 81 
			 Percentage educated in independent sector 33 21 14 8 6 6 19 
			  2007
			 Number of candidates 7,687 7,308 6,431 4,100 1,657 311 27,494 
			 Percentage educated in state sector 68 79 88 93 95 93 81 
			 Percentage educated in independent sector 32 21 12 7 5 7 19 
			  2008
			 Number of candidates 8,187 7,495 6,509 3,872 1,488 304 27,855 
			 Percentage educated in state sector 67 79 88 92 95 87 80 
			 Percentage educated in independent sector 33 21 12 8 5 13 20

GCSE: Disadvantaged

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils eligible to receive free school meals achieved  (a) a modern language GCSE at grades A* to C and  (b) five GCSEs at grades A* to C including a modern language GCSE in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Figures for year 2008 
			   Pupils eligible for  free school meals( 1) 
			  Achievement:  Number  Percentage 
			  (a) GCSE at A*-C or equivalent(2) in a modern foreign language3 10,035 13.4 
			  (b) 5 or more GCSE at A*-C or equivalents(2) including a modem foreign language(3) 8,498 11.4 
			 Total 7,4684 100.0 
			 (1) Only pupils at maintained schools and those at the end of their Key Stage 4 have been counted. (2) Examinations equivalent to a GCSE at A*-C have also been counted. (3) Pupils not entered for any modern foreign language examination have been counted in the percentage denominator.  Source:  National Pupil Database

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils who gained a GCSE at each grade in  (a) applied business,  (b) applied science,  (c) health and social care and  (d) leisure and tourism were educated in (i) the maintained sector and (ii) the independent sector in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The requested information has been placed in the Libraries.

Home Schooling: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the academic attainment of home-schooled pupils in the London Borough of Bexley.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect information about the academic attainment of home-schooled pupils.

Israel: Arms Trade

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what military equipment has been exported from the UK to Israel in the last three years; if he will take steps further to restrict UK exports of military equipment to Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government publish detailed information on export licences issued, refused and revoked, by destination, including the overall value and a summary of the items covered by these licences, in its Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls.
	The Government's annual reports, published since 1997, and quarterly reports, published since 2004, are available from the Libraries of the House and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/publications/publications/annual-reports/export-controls1.
	The Government do not approve any defence related exports if they judge that there is a clear risk that they will be used in contravention of the Consolidated Criteria, including for external aggression or internal repression. We routinely refuse export licences where we believe there is a risk of this, and have refused a number of licences to Israel on this basis.

Luton

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what grants his Department and its predecessors have made in respect of the Luton Borough Council area in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The tables showing the grants made by the Department for Children, Schools and Families to Luton borough council for each year since 1997-98, broken down between revenue and capital funding, will be placed in the Library.
	The revenue grant totals for 2006-07 onwards are not comparable with figures in 2005-06 and before, because the introduction of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded for education services.
	Before 2006-07 local authorities were funded through Education Formula Spending (EFS). This formed part of the annual Local Government Finance Settlement. EFS comprised school functions and local education authority (LEA) central functions, whereas DSG only covers the school functions. The DSG is based on each local authority's spend on schools in 2005-06, uprated each year for cost pressures and adjusted for changes in pupil numbers. LEA central functions are still funded through the Local Government Finance Settlement but cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable. For information the EFS figures for Luton borough council for 1997-98 to 2005-06 were:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 1997-98 78 
			 1998-99 83.6 
			 1999-2000 87.6 
			 2000-01 92 
			 2001-02 96.5 
			 2002-03 101.9 
			 2003-04 111.1 
			 2004-05 118.3 
			 2005-06 124.9 
			  Notes: 1. Before 2003-2004, called Education Standard Spending (ESS). 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of ESS/EFS settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC 3. Where responsibility for funding a school has transferred from an authority, related funding no longer appears in the series. 
		
	
	The Reducing Class Size revenue grants and the Nursery Education Grant were transferred to Education Formula Spending in 2003-04.
	The Teachers Threshold and Performance Pay Grant was transferred to Dedicated Schools Grant in 2006-07.
	Children's Services grant transferred to the Formula Grant paid by the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2008-09.
	Capital figures exclude PFI credit allocations, and supported borrowing allocations as part of Building Schools for the Future. Allocations for targeted capital projects are shown in the year the project started.
	The tables do not include children social care services grants before 2004-05 as responsibility for children social care services was transferred to this Department, from the Department of Health, in 2004-05.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 16 December 2008 on the NSPCC's submission to Lord Laming's review of the Child Protection System in England.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 9 Febr u ary 2009
	 The Department for Children, Schools and Families has no record of having received the hon. Member's letter. If the hon. Member would like to send me a copy of the letter I will be happy to respond.

Music: Teachers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people qualified as music teachers in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The number of teachers gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) via secondary Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses in Music for each of the last five years is given in the table.
	Information on primary ITT courses by subject is not available.
	
		
			  Teachers gaining QTS via secondary ITT courses in music: Years: 2002-03 to 2006-07 ,  England 
			   200203  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Mainstream 460 510 500 560 510 
			 Employment based routes 50 80 120 130 150 
			  Notes: 1. Mainstream figures include universities, other higher education institutions, SCITT and open university but excludes employment based routes and cases where QTS was granted on assessment-based teacher training. 2. Employment based ITT excludes cases where QTS was granted on assessment-based teacher training. 3. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  TDA Performance Profiles

National Strategies Annual Plan Summary 2008-09

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the core subjects referred to in the second bullet point of page 4 of the National Strategies Annual Plan Summary 2008-09 document published by his Department are.

Jim Knight: The definition of core subjects referred to in the second bullet of page 4 of the National Strategies 2008-09 Annual Plan Summary, is to raise achievement of: literacy and numeracy in the early years and primary school phases; and English, mathematics and science in the secondary phase.

Nurseries

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent estimate he has made of the number of children who will be in nursery care for the period 2010 to 2015.

Beverley Hughes: Estimates of the number of children who will be in nursery care for the period 2010 to 2015 are not produced centrally.
	Childcare Sufficiency Assessments published by each local authority are helping to identify and address any gaps in the provision of child care appropriate to the needs of working parents and those looking to work in their areas. The assessment process is helping local authorities in their strategic planning of child care services by giving them the evidence and information they need to facilitate and shape a child care market that is flexible, sustainable and responsive to parents' needs. It will also help providers to plan by giving them improved market information.

Offences Against Children: Haringey

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the membership is of the panel for the second serious case review of the child known as Baby P.

Beverley Hughes: The membership of the second serious case review panel is available on Haringey council's website.

Parents: Personal Income

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects of parental income on educational attainment.

Jim Knight: While parental income does not determine the educational attainment of any individual child, there is a clear correlation between low income and average attainment, as is shown for example in the data published annually by my Department showing differences in attainment at ages 11 and 16 between children eligible for free school meals and the rest of the cohort. In a public service agreement for the current spending period the Government have set an ambition to narrow these gaps by 2011 and beyond.

Primary Education: Finance

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what additional capital grant funding is available during the 2007 comprehensive spending review period for local authorities facing a funding shortfall owing to an unexpectedly high increase in demand for new pupil places in reception years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Government's strategy for supporting capital expenditure includes allocating as much of its capital resources as possible before the commencement of the comprehensive spending review (CSR) period, currently 2008-09 to 2010-11. This provides authorities with certainty of funding, which schools and authorities tell us they value when planning capital programmes. It also avoids the danger of the lost opportunity represented by national underspends.
	We are providing £21.9 billion of capital funding across the CSR period to local authorities and schools for use on schools. This was announced in October 2007. Some £1.2 billion of the funding was allocated as basic need funding for new pupil places, with the allocations largely determined by local authorities' own forecasts of growth in pupil numbers.
	We also give authorities significant flexibility within their other allocations to prioritise locally, including for new pupil places. We expect local authorities to give high priority to the provision of school places for their school-age population since this provision is a fundamental duty placed on authorities.
	We do not hold any reserves for special situations and are not planning any additional funding for this spending review period.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Manpower

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people are employed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority; and how many work for  (a) the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency and  (b) Ofqual.

Jim Knight: The average number of people employed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) up to the period for which the most recent figures are available (31 January 2009) was 614(1).
	Ofqual has been established in interim form under existing legislation since April 2008. Prior to this, regulation was the responsibility of the Regulation and Standards division of QCA, which has now formed the basis of interim Ofqual. The average number of people employed by Ofqual up to the period for which the most recent figures are available (31 January 2009) was 123(1).
	The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill will seek to evolve QCA into a Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), and establish Ofqual on a statutory basis as the new independent regulator of qualifications and assessment.
	(1) Source: Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA): February 2009.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority: Pay

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what expenditure the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority incurred on salaries in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much was spent on  (a) the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency and  (b) Ofqual.

Jim Knight: The total salary cost for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as disclosed in the 2007-08 annual accounts was £28.698 million.
	Ofqual has been established in interim form under existing legislation since April 2008. Prior to this, regulation was the responsibility of the Regulation and Standards division of QCA, which has now formed the basis of interim Ofqual. The total salary cost for the Regulation and Standards division of QCA in 2007-08 was £4.324 million.
	The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill will seek to evolve QCA into a Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA), and establish Ofqual on a statutory basis as the new independent regulator of qualifications and assessment.

Schools: Armed Forces

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding provision his Department makes for schools in England where the proportion of children of service personnel is over 90 per cent; and if he will make it his policy to ensure that such schools receive funding on a basis similar to that applicable to schools serving HM Forces bases overseas.

Jim Knight: The Government do not have specific funding arrangements for pupils attending service schools. We allocate revenue funding to local authorities via the dedicated schools grant according to the number of pupils they have on roll at the spring school census. It is then for the local authority to apply their local funding formula, which will have been approved by the Schools Forum, to allocate funding to the schools in their area and it is for the authority to ensure that their formula takes account of the individual needs and pressures of their schools.
	We are currently undertaking a review of the formula for distributing dedicated schools grant. The aim is to develop a funding system that supports schools and local authorities to raise the educational achievement of all pupils and to narrow the gap in educational achievement between all children, including those from low income and disadvantaged backgrounds. As part of this work we will be looking at the issues for particular groups of pupils, including service children. We will consult fully on proposals before taking final decisions.

Schools: Carbon Emissions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many zero-carbon schools have been built since 1 May 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department does not hold information about the carbon use of all schools built since 1 May 2005. We are not aware of any schools that have yet been built in England that would be defined as zero carbon.
	In December 2007 we announced an ambition for all new school buildings to be zero carbon by 2016 and we have appointed a taskforce to advise on how this goal can be achieved.
	Last year we set a requirement that newly constructed schools meet a carbon emissions reduction of 60 per cent. relative to the energy efficiency standards in 2002 Building Regulations. To enable this requirement to be met, we have provided additional funding for more than 200 schools in Building Schools for the Future and the Academies programme to fund the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures on school sites. We have developed a 'carbon calculator'—a software tool which allows users to compare the likely effectiveness of various energy solutions, and to demonstrate how they would achieve the 60 per cent. reduction. We have received completed carbon calculators for 53 school projects currently in design.

Schools: Gloucestershire

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much each eligible school in Gloucestershire received from the National Challenge Fund allocation to the county.

Jim Knight: The total amount of National Challenge support that schools in the National Challenge programme in Gloucestershire will benefit from in 2008/09 is £754,500. This breaks down as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Bishop's college 196,000 
			 Brockworth Enterprise school 140,250 
			 Cheltenham Kingsmead 97,250 
			 Maidenhill school 79,750 
			 Heywood Community school 67,250 
			 Christ college 52,250 
			 Beaufort Community school 48,250 
			 Vale of Berkeley college 41,250 
			 Pittville school 32,250

Schools: Inspections

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many legal cases have been brought against Ofsted in relation to inspections it has conducted of  (a) secondary schools,  (b) primary schools and  (c) nursery schools;
	(2)  how many legal cases have been won by nursery schools against Ofsted in relation to inspections undertaken by Ofsted;
	(3)  how many out-of-court settlements Ofsted has made with nursery schools in relation to legal claims brought by such schools against Ofsted in relation to inspections;
	(4)  how many nursery school inspectors have been made redundant by Ofsted since June 2007;
	(5)  what procedures apply to the retention by Ofsted of documents which it holds relating to the inspection of a nursery school after the inspection has taken place;
	(6)  what procedures govern the placing by Ofsted of its reports on a nursery school on its website in circumstances where the school has made a formal complaint about the inspection; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: These are matters for Ofsted. The Chief Inspector, Christine Gilberts, has written to the hon. Member and copies of her replies have been placed in the Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert , dated  28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response includes data relating both to maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	The current maintained school inspection framework took effect from September 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show no instances of legal cases brought against Ofsted for secondary, primary or nursery schools inspected under the school inspection framework.
	The previous inspection arrangements for childcare took effect from 1 April 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show one legal challenge brought by a registered nursery against Ofsted that was directly related to a scheduled inspection.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert , dated  28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of 'childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response includes data relating both to maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	The current maintained school inspection framework took effect from September 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show no instances of legal cases being won against Ofsted for secondary, primary or nursery schools inspected under the school inspection framework.
	The previous inspection arrangements for childcare took effect from 1 April 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show no instances of legal cases being won by a registered nursery against Ofsted that was directly related to a scheduled inspection. The single legal case brought against Ofsted in relation to the inspection of a registered nursery resulted in a consent order agreed between both parties.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert , dated  28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of 'childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response includes data relating both to maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	The current maintained school inspection framework took effect from September 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show no instances of out-of-court settlements against Ofsted for secondary, primary or nursery schools inspected under the school inspection framework.
	The previous inspection arrangements for childcare took effect from 1 April 2005 and I consider this to be an appropriate timeframe to cover this provider type for this response. Since that point, Ofsted's records of litigation show one instance of a legal cases brought by a registered nursery against Ofsted's inspection activity that led to an out-of-court settlement, or consent order.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert ,  dated 28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of 'childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response relates to inspection of both maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	No inspectors that might inspect either maintained nursery schools or other nursery provision have been made redundant by Ofsted since June 2007.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert , dated  28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of 'childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response relates to inspection of both maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	The two most recent reports of the inspections of maintained nursery schools inspected under the current inspection framework are published on Ofsted's website. Earlier reports are retained within Ofsted's internal database as public documents. Other documents relating to these inspections are retained by Ofsted for a period of three months following the inspection. Where a complaint has been made about an inspection, documents are retained until three months after the complaint has been closed, provided that no further complaint is received.
	The most recent inspection report relating to childcare providers is published on Ofsted's website. Earlier reports are retained within Ofsted's internal database as public documents. Other documents relating to the inspection of childcare providers are retained by Ofsted for a period of six months after the inspection report is published. Where a complaint has been made about an inspection, the evidence base is retained until six months after the case is resolved or any appeal period has passed.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert , dated  28 January 2009 :
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for a response.
	Ofsted uses the term nursery school to denote a maintained school for children of nursery age, inspected under the current school inspection framework (commonly known as section 5). Children of nursery age may also attend childcare provision, within the categories of 'childcare on domestic premises' and 'childcare on non-domestic premises', such as a private day nursery. This response relates to inspection of both maintained nursery schools and other nursery provision.
	Ofsted would not normally delay the publication of an inspection report of any maintained school or other nursery provision when a formal complaint has been received about the inspection. If, having considered the complaint, Ofsted believes that the evidence gathered during the inspection does not support the judgments reached, it will declare the inspection 'null and void' and carry out a re-inspection. In such cases, the original inspection report is removed from the website and replaced. These instances are rare.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to right hon. Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

Schools: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools in Leeds West constituency have broadband access.

Jim Knight: All the maintained schools with the constituency of Leeds, West have broadband access.

Skills Funding Agency

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the annual budget of the proposed Skills Funding Agency will be.

Si�n Simon: I have been asked to reply.
	The total planned DIUS spend for adult skills through the Learning and Skills Council is 4.5 billion for 2009-10.
	The Skills Funding Agency will be in operation from April 2010. Decisions on the allocation of the DIUS adult skills budgets for 2010-11, including the budget of the Skills Funding Agency, will be made later this year.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Key Stage 4 pupils who had  (a) a statement of special educational needs and  (b) unstatemented special educational needs attended academies in each year since 2003.

Jim Knight: The requested information is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Academies: number of pupils in key stage 4 who had a statement of special educational needs and who had unstatemented special educational needs( 1,2 ) Position in January each year 2003 to 2008: England 
			Number of pupils who had a statement of special educational needs  Number of pupils who had unstatemented special educational needs 
			   Number of schools  Year Group 10  Year Group 11  Year Group 10  Year Group 11 
			 2003 3 10 10 150 140 
			 2004 12 60 60 540 520 
			 2005 17 80 80 670 610 
			 2006 27 110 110 980 1,000 
			 2007 46 210 170 1,920 1,670 
			 2008 83 340 310 3,550 3,300 
			 (1) Excludes dually registered pupils. (2) Includes pupils in national curriculum year groups 10 and 11.  Notes: These figures do not include Academies that opened after January 2008. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  School Census

Special Educational Needs: Young Offender Institutions

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of inmates in young offender institutions have special educational needs.

Beverley Hughes: Data on the number of people in young offender institutions (YOIs) assessed as having special educational needs (SEN) are not collected centrally. However, the Learning and Skills Council report the number of young people in juvenile accommodation in YOIs referred to special educational needs coordinators (SENCOs) for the period between August 2007 to July 2008 was 3,320. A referral to a SENCO does not necessarily mean that the young person has SEN.

Specialised Diplomas: Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much expenditure under each budget heading his Department has incurred on the introduction of diploma courses and qualifications in each year since 2005;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of its expenditure on diplomas in each of the next three years; and under what budgetary headings such expenditure is expected to be incurred.

Jim Knight: Expenditure for 2005-06 to 2008-09 on diplomas was made under the following categories:
	development costs for diploma qualifications;
	preparation funding to support consortia to deliver diplomas;
	funding for local delivery and capacity building, including the diploma specific grant;
	work force development to prepare the work force for the delivery of diplomas; and
	supporting transport arrangements in the most rural areas.
	The total spend on diploma qualifications for each financial year is:
	
		
			  Expenditure on diplomas for the financial years 2005-06 to 2007-08 
			   
			   Developmental  Preparation  Direct and indirect  Work force development  Transport 
			 2005-06 2,479,000 0 0 0 0 
			 2006-07 5,000,000 0 0 4,400,000 0 
			 2007-08 9,612,000 15,203,000 2,195,582 19,501,000 0 
		
	
	The estimated funding levels for diplomas from 2008-09 to 2010-11 are shown in the following table:
	
		
			million 
			 2008-09 117.6 
			 2009-10 113.1 
			 2010-11 78.1

Specialist Schools

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many specialist  (a) mathematics,  (b) arts,  (c) sport,  (d) science,  (e) music,  (f) technology,  (g) business,  (h) engineering and  (i) humanities schools there were at the start of each of the last three school years.

Jim Knight: The following table provides details of the numbers of schools that have been designated as specialist mathematics, arts, sport, science, music, technology, business, engineering and humanities schools in the last three school years.
	
		
			   Number of specialist schools as at  1 September each year 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			  Arts
			 Main Specialism (a) 408 451 489 
			 Second Specialism (b) 31 31 31 
			 Combined Specialism (c) 28 38 45 
			 Arts totals 467 520 565 
			 
			  Business and Enterprise
			 Main Specialism (a) 217 240 257 
			 Second Specialism (b) 7 7 7 
			 Combined Specialism (c) 19 21 23 
			 Business and Enterprise totals 243 268 287 
			 
			  Engineering
			 Main Specialism (a) 45 52 57 
			 Second Specialism (b) 0 0 0 
			 Combined Specialism (c) 12 12 12 
			 Engineering totals 57 64 69 
			 
			  Humanities
			 Main Specialism (a) 81 110 130 
			 Second Specialism (b) 31 32 32 
			 Combined Specialism (c) 19 24 30 
			 Humanities totals 131 166 192 
			 
			  Maths and Computing
			 Main Specialism (a) 240 260 282 
			 Second Specialism (b) 29 51 51 
			 Combined Specialism (c) 23 25 29 
			 Maths and Computing Totals 292 336 362 
			 
			  Music
			 Main Specialism (a) 20 24 30 
			 Second Specialism (b) 15 16 16 
			 Combined Specialism (c) 7 9 10 
			 Music totals 42 49 56 
			 
			  Science
			 Main Specialism (a) 287 307 324 
			 Second Specialism (b) 31 64 63 
			 Combined Specialism (c) 41 48 49 
			 Science totals 359 419 436 
			 
			  Sports
			 Main Specialism (a) 336 359 396 
			 Second Specialism (b) 26 28 28 
			 Combined Specialism (c) 18 27 25 
			 Sports totals 380 414 449 
			 
			  Technology
			 Main Specialism (a) 500 547 554 
			 Second Specialism (b) 3 3 3 
			 Combined Specialism (c) 15 19 19 
			 Technology totals 518 569 576

Specialist Schools: Languages

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2008,  Official Report, column 186W, on specialist schools: languages, how many and what percentage of pupils in each of the 220 schools with language as a first specialism achieved a modern language GCSE at grades A* to C in the last year for which figures are available.

Jim Knight: The information is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/
	The information is also available in the Library.

Sure Start Programme: Blackpool

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on funding Sure Start centres in Blackpool since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Sure Start local programmes (SSLPs) were introduced in 1999-2000. Details of expenditure on SSLPs and children's centres since that time, which totals 19.8 million, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Blackpool  CC and SSLP s pend 
			   Expenditure  
			  Programme  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  Total 
			 Mereside  Clifton SSLP Revenue 85,546 382,699 431,661 505,371 475,229 482,556 497,981   2,861,043 
			 Mereside  Clifton SSLP Capital 1,043,245   1,043,245 
			 Grange Park SSLP Revenue   0 315,960 498,372 511,503 430,739   1,756,574 
			 Grange Park SSLP Capital   957,925   957,925 
			 Talbot  Brunswick SSLP Revenue131,117 383,251 656,785 672,812   1,843,965 
			 Talbot  Brunswick SSLP Capital1,000,000   1,000,000 
			 Children's Centre Revenue 50,000 67,740 643,179 3,058,124 2,877,500 6,696,543 
			 Children's Centre Capital 0 320,111 838,800 1,282,119 1,239,446 3,680,476 
			
			 Total 85,546 382,699 431,661 952,448 1,406,852 2,038,695 6,084,681 4,340,243 4,116,946 19,839,771 
			 Sub Total (Revenue) 85,546 382,699 431,661 952,448 1,406,852 1,718,584 2,244,711 3,058,124 2,877,500 13,158,125 
			 Sub Total (Capital) 0 0 0 0 0 320,111 3,839,970 1,282,119 1,239,446 6,681,646

Teachers: Qualifications

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers of  (a) physics,  (b) biology,  (c) chemistry,  (d) mathematics,  (e) history and (f) foreign languages did not hold a degree-level qualification in that subject in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Information on the number of secondary school teachers in maintained schools in England, their qualifications and the subjects they are teaching is collected in the Secondary School Curriculum and Staffing Survey (SSCSS). The most recent survey was carried out in February 2007; this is an occasional survey that does not provide a full time series.
	The 2007 SSCSS survey estimated the following number of teachers teaching at least one period a week of the requested subjects, and the proportions holding different levels of qualifications:
	
		
			  Highest post A-level qualifications held by full-time equivalent teachers in the subjects( 2)  they taught to year groups 7 to 13 in 2007 
			   N umber  of teachers  Degree( 3)  BEd  PGCE  Cert Ed  Other qual.  No qual.  Percentage  without a degree, BEd or PGCE( 4) 
			 Mathematics 30,800 47 9 14 2 3 25 30 
			 Biology 8,900 85 5 4 1 1 4 6 
			 Chemistry 8,000 83 4 7 1 1 4 5 
			 Physics 7,300 72 6 8 1 2 10 13 
			 History 15,700 64 5 6 1 1 24 26 
			  
			  Foreign Languages: 
			 French 14,900 57 5 10 3 2 23 28 
			 German 6,600 61 2 7 1 2 28 30 
			 Spanish 5,200 50 1 10   40 40 
			 Other modern languages 2,100 25  6   69 69 
			 (1) Where a teacher had more than one post A level qualification in the same subject, the qualification level was determined by the highest level reading from left (Degree) to right (Other Qual.). For example, teachers shown under PGCE had a PGCE but not a degree or BEd in the subject, while those with a PGCE and a degree were shown only under Degree. (2) Teachers are counted once against each subject which they are teaching. (3) Includes higher degrees but excludes BEds. (4) Totals may not sum to components due to rounding.  Note: Number of teachers are rounded to the nearest hundred the nearest 100.  Source: Secondary Schools Curriculum and Staffing Survey 2007 
		
	
	The full SSCSS report can be found at the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/research/data/uploadfiles/DCSF-RR026.pdf

Teachers: Training

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to encourage teachers to take responsibility for planning their own continuing professional development.

Jim Knight: Since September 2007 the revised professional standards for teachers provide clear career pathways for teachers from qualified teacher status to advanced skill teachers. These clarify what is expected at each career stage, including expectations about teachers' ongoing engagement in their own continuing professional development (CPD).
	To support this we have introduced revised and robust performance management arrangements in September 2007 which will ensure that teachers' performance is regularly reviewed and that all teachers have clear and robust development plans which take account of their own individual needs and the school's improvement priorities. Teachers play a key role in this process through engaging with their line mangers to agree their professional development plans.
	The new performance management arrangements introduced in September 2007 are part of the broader cultural change agenda that has been transforming the school workforce since Raising standards and tackling workload: a national agreement was signed in 2003. They are a key part of the drive to create a new professionalism and are designed to help schools raise standards even further by tying teacher performance with their professional development needs and a school's own improvement priorities.

Teenage Pregnancy: Nottingham

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on measures to reduce levels of teenage pregnancy in Nottingham in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: Each local authority receives funding within its Area-based Grant to support delivery of its local teenage pregnancy strategy. The amount each local authority receives is based on a formula that takes account of the number and rate of teenage pregnancies, ensuring that areas which face the greatest challenges receive the most funding. In 2008-09, Nottingham received 295,000 within its Area-based Grant to support its local teenage pregnancy strategy.
	Regional teenage pregnancy co-ordinators based in Government offices provide support and challenge to the local areas within each region. 100,000 is allocated to each Government office to support that function. While only a proportion of this 100,000 will be used to support activity in Nottingham, Government offices have been directed to differentiate the support and challenge they provide so that support is targeted on areaslike Nottinghamwhich have made least progress.
	As one of the 21 local areas with high and increasing rates of teenage pregnancy, Nottingham has also received support from the Department of Health's national support team (NST). In monetary terms, the support received from NST is estimated to be around 20,000.
	In addition, mainstream delivery partners within the local areaPCTs, schools, youth services and social servicesuse a proportion of their budgets to provide services that support local teenage pregnancy strategies. For example, schools support local teenage pregnancy strategies through their provision of sex and relationships education and targeted work with vulnerable young people to raise aspirations. It is not possible, however, to put a monetary value on these contributions.

Young Offenders

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what process is employed in issuing a youth conditional caution.

Beverley Hughes: We propose to introduce the Youth Conditional Caution in stages. Pilots for 16 and 17-year-olds will begin in summer 2009. Evaluation of the pilot schemes will inform implementation decisions on national roll out of the Caution for 16 and 17-year-olds nationally and its application to 10 to 15-year-olds. The draft statutory code of practice governing use of the Youth Conditional Caution for 16 and 17-year-olds is in the final stages of preparation and consultation on it will begin shortly. I will ensure that the hon. Member receives copies of the consultation documents.

Young People: Sports

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much  (a) Exchequer and  (b) lottery funding will be spent on the Physical Education and Sport Strategy for Young People in each of the next four years; and how much will be allocated to the Youth Sport Trust.

Jim Knight: holding answer 10 February 2009
	783 million of Exchequer funding has been committed to deliver the PE and Sport Strategy for Young People over the three years to 2010-11. This works out at 261 million per year. This does not include any lottery funding. However, lottery funding may support sporting programmes locally.
	Total grant of 13,460,576 has been allocated to the Youth Sport Trust for 2008-09 to fund their work in helping to deliver the strategy and other related policy areas. Funding for the Youth Sport Trust beyond the current financial year is currently under consideration.

Young People: Unemployment

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether the planned pilot of the variant of the Activity Agreement to offer personalised learning to young people as soon as they become not in education, employment or training has commenced.

Jim Knight: The White Paper 'New OpportunitiesFair Chances for the Future', published on 13 January 2009, announced the extension of activity agreements to March 2010. We will use this period to gather further information that will inform what support and incentives might be needed as we raise the participation age from 2013. From April 2009, therefore, the Activity Agreement offer will be targeted on engaging the very hardest to reach.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Charities: Finance

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps he is taking to promote the work of the Charity Research Support Fund in the context of the current national economic situation.

David Lammy: HEFCE's quality related (QR) block grant for research to higher education institutions includes a charity support element. This element is calculated by reference to charitable research income, but is distributed as part of the annual QR block grant rather than as a separate fund. It is for institutions that receive QR to determine how to use that funding in line with their own research priorities.

OLYMPICS

Apprentices: Olympic Games 2012

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many people are undertaking  (a) trainee apprenticeships and  (b) work placements at Olympic venues.  [Official Report, 5 March 2009, Vol. 488, c. 11MC.]

Tessa Jowell: In addition to the existing commitment for 2,000 trainee, apprenticeships and work placements over the life of the project (of which 180 would be apprenticeships), the Prime Minister announced last month that 250 additional apprenticeships would be created on the Olympic Park and Village.
	At the end of December 2008, of the 303 people undertaking training on the Olympic Park site:
	 (a) 27 people were registered as apprentices (on a recognised framework)
	 (b) 41 were on trainee work placements.

Contracts: Olympic Games 2012

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether an independent value for money audit of the bid by Lend Lease to build the Olympic Village was conducted prior to the award of the contract.

Tessa Jowell: Lend Lease was selected to be the preferred developer for the Olympic Village as a result of a competitive  Official Journal of the European Union procurement. The detailed contract is still under negotiation. Before the contract is finalised, an assessment of the value for money of the proposed deal will be considered by the ministerial Funders Group.

Departmental Public Appointments

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for the Olympics which of the public appointments for which her Office is responsible are due to be  (a) renewed and  (b) filled in the next 24 months; what the (i) remit, (ii) salary, (iii) political restriction, (iv) eligibility requirement and (v) timetable for each appointment is; and what records her Office keeps in respect of such appointments.

Tessa Jowell: Information on public appointments to the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and the Olympic Lottery Distributor (OLD) is published in the DCMS Annual Report and also on the DCMS website:
	www.culture.gov.uk/working_with_us/public_appointments
	The ODA and OLD also provide detailed information about appointments in their own annual reports. Public appointments vacancies are advertised on the DCMS website and the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website at:
	www.publicappointments.gov.uk
	The process for making a public appointment, including guidance on political activity and eligibility criteria, follows the Cabinet Office publication 'Making and Managing Public Appointments'. For appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the appointments process also complies with the 'Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies'. Copies are in the Libraries of the House.

Fairtrade Initiative: Olympic Games 2012

Michael Moore: To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will bring forward plans to ensure that the 2012 London Olympics sources all relevant products on a fair trade basis; if she will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for International Development on the matter; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 115W, in which I set out the action that my officials and I had undertaken with other Government Departments, including DFID, in this regard.
	In November 2008 the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) published a sustainable sourcing code setting out that it will seek to procure products and services for London 2012 that have been certified as ethically sourced, where they represent value for money and do not compromise other sustainability objectives. This code will be kept under review and DFID is one of many organisations which LOCOG will consult in that process.
	The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) also seeks to work with suppliers which have a good track record in human rights and use goods and materials produced ethically.

Havering

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics when she last visited the London borough of Havering.

Tessa Jowell: I have not yet had the opportunity to visit the London borough of Havering in my position as Minister for the Olympics. I would be delighted to hear about ways in which the hon. Members constituents are engaging with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Mass Media: Olympic Games 2012

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for the Olympics who the owner of the media centre planned for the London 2012 Olympics will be once it has been completed.

Tessa Jowell: The International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre are being built on land owned by the London Development Agency, which will retain ownership after completion of the buildings.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics for what reason problems with the foundations and ground conditions for the Olympic velodrome were not identified earlier; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: Initial site investigation studies on the site of the Velopark were carried out throughout 2007 and continued into 2008, when the poor ground conditions were identified. As part of the review of the Masterplan for the Olympic Park, undertaken in 2007, the Velodrome was moved slightly to the west to help with the design and layout of the wider cycling facilities to be built in legacy. This movement exacerbated the ground conditions problem.
	The July 2008 London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games update report identified a 40 million cost pressure against other Olympic park venues, part of which was for the Velopark. The level of contamination on this site was more extensive than originally assessed and this contributed to the overall increase of 25 million in the Velopark budget to 105 million. Once the full extent of the ground conditions was known, design and ground modelling studies were undertaken which produced an accurate estimate of the potential costs.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans there are for the use of the  (a) handball venue,  (b) sailing facilities and  (c) aquatics venue after the end of the London 2012 Olympic games.

Tessa Jowell: Business plans are currently being developed for the legacy use of all permanent London 2012 sporting venues.
	The handball venue will be a flexible, multi-use sports venue in legacy, with a capacity of up to 6,000. Through the provision of retractable seating, it will be possible to increase the field of play and reduce the seating capacity to 3,000. Facilities will include a field of play able to accommodate up to three basketball courts or 12 badminton courts, and a health and fitness centre. The venue will have the capacity to be used for a variety of indoor sports including volleyball, handball, badminton, netball, football and basketball at both community and high performance level. Further sporting uses are also being pursued.
	The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA) will benefit from the improved facilities that the games will leave behind, providing a state-of-the-art facility for elite training, competition and local community use. Enhancementswhich were completed in November 2008include a new 250m slipway, race-boat parking, and lifting and mooring facilities. These provide an early legacy of world-class facilities for elite athletes and the local Dorset community to use.
	The Aquatics Centre will have a capacity of 2,500 in legacy, increasing to 3,500 for major events. It will provide two 50m pools (for which there is an identified strategic need in London), a dive pool with multiple level dive tower, and facilities such as a crche, cafe and dry side training. This is a state of the art building that will make use of sophisticated technology including moveable floors and booms. It will be a permanent elite and community swimming resource for east London that will be used by an estimated 600,000 visitors a year after the games.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans there are for the use of the North Greenwich Arena  (a) 1 and  (b) 2 after the end of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: North Greenwich Arena 1 is an existing privately owned arena and will be used for a temporary period to stage 2012 Olympics events. Post-games it will continue to be operated by the owners. North Greenwich Arena 2 was intended to be a new, temporary arena. Further to the recommendations of a report in December 2008 by KPMG, a review is being undertaken to consider suitable alternative existing venues and Arena 2 is part of that review. It is anticipated that decisions will be taken on remaining venue locations in March 2009.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans there are for the use of the Olympic Stadium after the end of the London 2012 Olympic games.

Tessa Jowell: A business plan is currently being developed for the legacy use of the stadium. The stadium will be converted from an 80,000 to a 25,000 seat venue in legacy. Athletics will provide the core sporting legacy use, as promised to the IOC, at both community and high performance level. The stadium will be used to host domestic athletic events and as a world-class facility will enable the UK to bid for international events. This will be complemented by a range of other educational and sporting uses including a school with a sporting focus, the National Skills Academy for Sport and Leisure, and a high performance centre operated by the English Institute of Sport (including sport science and sport medicine services).

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what plans there are for the use of the velopark after the end of the London 2012 Olympic games.

Tessa Jowell: A business plan is currently being developed for the legacy use of the Velopark. The Velopark will be a unique cycling hub, incorporating all cycling disciplines and hosting events from world-class to community level. The Velodrome will retain its Olympic seating capacity of 6,000 in legacy. Other facilities on the Velopark will include a mountain biking track, BMX track, one-mile road cycle circuit and a cycle speedway, used for community and high performance level activities. The venue will be operated in legacy by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. British Cycling has been involved in the development of the Velopark and will use the facilities available.

Olympic Games 2012: Expenditure

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much had been spent on the handball venue at the latest date for which figures are available; and what the estimated final cost of the venue is.

Tessa Jowell: The contractor that will build the handball arena has not yet been selected and so it is not appropriate to announce budget or cost details while the procurement process is continuing.

Olympic Games 2012: Expenditure

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what cancelled expenditure items are contained under the headings  (a) other transport capital projects and  (b) other transport operating expenditure, in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Annual Report 2009, Table 2, page 49; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: The two potential reductions in transport forecast expenditure included in the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Annual Report 2009, Table 2, page 49, represent opportunities for savingsnot reductions, omissions or cancellations of work.
	These potential savings have been identified during contract negotiations and will be confirmed in due course once terms have been fully concluded. Due to the commercial element of the ongoing discussions, it is not possible to provide further details at this time.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Art Works: Loans

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of those who have taken advantage of the Own Art loan scheme fall into each of the scheme's eligibility criteria.

Barbara Follett: The Own Art scheme is run by Arts Council England and is open to all UK residents over the age of 18. The scheme aims to support, in particular, the following priority groups:
	First-time buyers of contemporary art or craft
	Those on income levels equivalent to or below the national average of 22,500 who might otherwise be unable afford to buy original works of art.
	The Arts Council has advised that the percentage of customers who fall into each priority group is as follows.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Priority group  2004-05  to  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09( 1) 
			 First-time buyers 29 27 25 25.4 
			 Lower incomes 26 26 25 27.2 
			 (1) April - December 2008

Art Works: Loans

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have taken out loans as part of the Own Art scheme in each of the last three years; and what the total value of the loans was in each year.

Barbara Follett: The Own Art scheme is run by Arts Council England and launched in April 2004. The Arts Council advises that over 12,000 customers have used the scheme for the purchase of work of contemporary art and craft valued in excess of 8.2 million. Sales for the current financial year to date total 1.67 million (2,041 loans). Figures for the preceding three full financial years are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of loans  Value of loans () 
			 2007-08 2,596 2,217,584.25 
			 2006-07 2,815 2,420,100.98 
			 2005-06 2,725 2,066,068.46

Arts Council of England: Property

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what  (a) buildings and  (b) land are leased by Arts Council England; and what estimate has been made of the value of these assets.

Barbara Follett: Arts Council England has advised that it owns the freehold on a section of land in the London Southbank area covering the area of the Southbank Centre (SBC) and British Film Institute (BFI), and an area covering the Royal National Theatre (RNT). All the land is leased to the Southbank Centre, British Film Institute and Royal National Theatre at no cost to them. Arts Council England, as freeholder, has no development rights and cannot derive any revenue for the duration of the 150 years leases. They therefore advise that the land on the South Bank therefore has no realistic or bankable value to them, and that they have made no estimate of the value of these assets.
	Where leaseholders sublet space and generate revenue, as in case of the Southbank Centre, information on the revenues received is primarily a matter for the body in question. Further information can be found in the relevant annual accounts. The most recent published annual accounts for the Southbank Centre are available at the following link:
	http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/about-southbank-centre

Arts: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in respect of which projects  (a) the Arts Council,  (b) the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council,  (c) Sport England and  (d) English Heritage (i) received ring-fenced funding in 2008-09 and (ii) are planned to receive such funding in each of the next three years; and what estimate he has made of the cost of funding each such project in each year.

Andy Burnham: At the conclusion of Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (CSR07) negotiations, the following funding depicted as being ring-fenced was approved:
	
		
			   million 
			  Body  Purpose  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Renaissance in the regions 46.21 47.46 48.74 
			 Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Government indemnity scheme 0.15 0.15 0.15 
		
	
	Additionally, the following amounts were agreed for project-specific work during the current CSR period (2008-09 to 2010-11):
	
		
			   million 
			  Body  Purpose  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Arts Council England Find your talent programme Up to 2.50 0 0 
			 Arts Council England Two year programme of free theatre 0 Up to 2.50 0 
			 Arts Council England Museums and galleries education programme 0.30 tbc tbc 
			 Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Museum strategic commissioning programme; regional museum education development and professional development programme 2.24 tbc tbc 
			 Sport England Five-hour school sport offer 14.5 13.5 11.5 
			 Sport England English Institute of Sport high performance facility development and scientific equipment maintenance 2.70 0.70 0.70 
		
	
	Funding in 2011-12 for the four bodies in question falls outside of the current spending review period, and will be decided at a later date following detailed negotiation.

British Film Institute: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding  (a) his Department and  (b) Arts Council England provided to the British Film Institute in each of the last five years; and how much came from (i) Exchequer funding and (ii) the National Lottery in each such year.

Barbara Follett: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The British Film Institute is funded by the UK Film Council from its annual grant in aid allocation awarded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
	(i) The UK Film Council provided the following grant-in-aid funding to the British Film Institute in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   Exchequer funding () 
			 2003-04 16,000,000 
			 2004-05 16,000,000 
			 2005-06 16,000,000 
			 2006-07 (1)18,500,000 
			 2007-08 16,000,000 
			 (1) Included a 2.5 million one-off grant towards refurbishment and conversion of National Film Theatre and Museum of the Moving Image into BFI Southbank 
		
	
	(ii) The British Film Institute has bid for and received the following Lottery funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the UK Film Council for specific projects:
	
		
			   Lottery Funding () 
			 2003-04  
			 2004-05 1,954 
			 2005-06 785,423 
			 2006-07 30,140 
			 2007-08 76,189 
		
	
	 (b) Arts Council England
	Arts Council England has advised that it provided the following funding to the BFI in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			  (i) Exchequer funding :  
			 Regular funding  
			 Managed funds  74,500 44,000 25,000  
			 Creative partnerships 2,500 
			   
			  (ii) Lottery Funding: Grants for the arts   100,000 100,000

Broadband

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to increase access to broadband for  (a) lower income households with children of school age,  (b) pensioner households and  (c) people with a disability.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 22 January 2009
	 I have been asked to reply.
	The Prime Minister appointed the Secretary of State for Wales, as Minister for Digital Inclusion last year because the Government recognise this as a very important challenge facing the UK.
	Since taking on the role, the Digital Inclusion Minister has formed a dedicated Cabinet committee, MISC 34, he has established a cross-government coordination unit, and Government have engaged a wide range of stakeholders in developing the cross-government report Delivering Digital InclusionAn Action plan for Consultation
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/deliveringdigitalinclusion
	in order to have a coherent and concerted drive to address digital inclusion and increase access to broadband/digital technologies for  (a) lower income households with children  (b) pensioners households  (c) people with disabilities.
	The action plan details over 70 Government actions taking place to advance digital inclusion and future actions being considered by Government to facilitate access and skills to digital technologies for disadvantaged groups and individuals in The annex:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/digitalinclusionannex
	of the report. The consultation was launched on 27 October 2008 and was meant to close on 19 January but has been extended to 26 January at the request of stakeholders. Government are currently analysing responses to inform further progress.
	Government are working with industry and Ofcom towards ensuring the right environment for the creation of innovative broadband content. We will set out guidance on broadband content procurement by the public sector, informed by an industry perspective. The Digital Britain report is looking at the issue of media literacy, future access to digital communications, availability of information, and the ability to interact with vast communities of people, regardless of location so the UK can remain a world leader in digital services. An interim report will be published in late January, early February which will lay out the road of travel. A full report will be published in the summer 2009.

Departmental Buildings

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library a copy of the  (a) display energy certificates and  (b) advisory reports for public buildings issued in respect of each property occupied by (i) his Department and (ii) its agency.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department will place in the Library a copy of the display energy certificates and their associated advisory reports in respect of each property occupied by my Department and its agency, as soon as they are available.

Departmental Impact Assessments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many equalities impact assessments his Department has undertaken in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of such assessments.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department has carried out seven equality impact assessments over the year 2008. Six have been published on our website; and one is awaiting publication.
	We do not monitor the cost of carrying out assessments.

Departmental Public Appointments

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which of the public appointments for which his Department is responsible are due to be  (a) renewed and  (b) filled in the next 24 months; what the (i) remit, (ii) salary, (iii) political restriction, (iv) eligibility requirement and (v) timetable for each appointment is; and what records his Department keeps in respect of such appointments.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on DCMS public appointments is published in the DCMS Annual Report and also on the website:
	www.culture.gov.uk/working_with_us/public_appointments.
	DCMS public bodies also provide detailed information about appointments in their individual Annual Reports. DCMS public appointments vacancies are advertised on the DCMS website and on the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website at: www.publicappointments.gov.uk. The process for making a public appointment, including guidance on political activity and eligibility criteria, follows the Cabinet Office publication Making and Managing Public Appointments. For appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the appointments process also complies with the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies. Copies are in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department or its predecessors were on sick leave for  (a) over 30 days,  (b) over 50 days and  (c) over 100 days in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The requested information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Staff on sick leave  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Over 30 days 11 11 14 7 0 
			 Over 50 days 7 8 8 5 0 
			 Over 100 days 4 3 4 4 1 
			 Total 22 22 26 16 1

Departmental Sick Leave

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in his Department were recorded as having been on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The number of DCMS staff on sick leave for over 12 months on 31 December in each of the last five years is zero.

Music: Young People

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) adult and  (b) peer mentors have been appointed as part of the Music Mentoring scheme in each of the last three years.

Barbara Follett: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1551W.

Musical Instruments: Loans

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have taken out loans for musical instruments as part of the Take It Away scheme in each of the last three years; and what the monetary value of the loans was in each year.

Barbara Follett: The Take it Away scheme is run by Arts Council England and was launched in July 2007. Sales statistics are therefore available only for 2007-08 and 2008-09.
	The Arts Council has advised that in 2007-08, a total of 5,962 loans were taken out for the value of 3,934,235. In 2008-09 (to December 2008), a total of 10,163 loans have been taken out for the value of 6,603,773.
	Since the scheme's launch, more than 16,000 customers have used Take it Away for the purchase of over 10.5 million worth of musical instruments and equipment.

Musical Instruments: Loans

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of those who have taken advantage of the Take It Away instrument loan scheme fall into each of the eligibility criteria.

Barbara Follett: The Take it Away scheme is run by Arts Council England and is open to all UK residents over the age of 18. The scheme aims to support, in particular, the following priority groups:
	Those buying an instrument for a child or young person under 18;
	Those buying an instrument for the first time (of any age);
	Those on income levels equivalent to or below the national average of 22,500 per annum who might otherwise be unable to acquire an instrument appropriate to their needs.
	The Arts Council has advised that the percentage of customers who fall into each priority group is as follows.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Priority group  2007-08  2008-09( 1) 
			 Young person under 18 28.2 25.9 
			 Beginner/adult re-starter 46.4 45.0 
			 Income less than 22,500 46.4 45.0 
			 Customers that fall into one or more priority group 82.40 80.80 
			 (1) 2008-09 figures are to the end of September 2008 only

National Lottery

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much revenue has been raised from  (a) all National Lottery games and  (b) the Olympic scratch card game in each year since the launch of the latter.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 10 February 2009
	The National Lottery Commission have provided the following table which shows total sales from all National Lottery games and separated out the total sales of all Olympic Lottery designated games (including Scratchcards) in each year since the launch of the letter.
	
		
			   million 
			  Financial year  Total sales  Total sales of Olympic Lottery designated games 
			 2005-06(1) 3,504.0 61.5 
			 2006-07 4,911.4 438.7 
			 2007-08 4,966.3 540.4 
			 2008-09(2) 3,797.7 410.2 
			 (1) Eight months. (2) Year to December 2008.

National Lottery

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of the Olympic scratch card game on Lottery contributions to the National Lottery good causes since its launch; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 10 February 2009
	The National Lottery Commission have advised that it is not possible to assess the impact of Olympic designated games on overall returns to good causes as it would not be possible to predict what sales would have been without a successful Olympics bid.
	The best way to minimise the impact of Olympic Lottery games sales on The National Lottery Distribution Fund is therefore to maximise overall sales.

Public Libraries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 18 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 255-6W, on public libraries, to what factors he attributes the difference between the number of libraries open for more than 10 hours in  (a) 1996-97 and  (b) 2006-07.

Barbara Follett: Although the number of libraries open more than 10 hours a week (excluding mobile ones) decreased by 17 between 1996-97 and 2006-07, the proportion of libraries open for more than 44 hours per week increased by 79 per cent. (369). A large increase in the number of static libraries open for less than 10 hours per week (from 0 to 86) during this period compensates for a reduction in the number of mobile libraries (-12 per cent.) and results in the total number of libraries (static plus mobile) increasing by eight between 1996-97 and 2006-07. These changes indicate that authorities have altered their library opening hours in accordance with the needs of their communities. This information is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Libraries open 60+ hrs per week  Libraries open 45-59 hrs per week  Libraries open 30-44 hrs per week  Libraries open 10-29 hrs per week  Mobile libraries  Libraries open 10+ hrs per week (incl. mobiles)  Libraries open 10 hrs per week  Libraries open (all hours) 
			 1996-97 7 462 1,316 1,298 489 3,572  3,572 
			 2006-07 97 741 1,132 1,096 428 3,494 86 3,580 
			 Difference 90 279 -184 -202 -61 -78 86 8 
			 Percentage change 1,286 60 -14 -16 -12 -2  0 
			  Source:  Public Library Statistics (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA))

Public Libraries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 18 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 255-6W, on public libraries, what consideration his Department has given to the central collection of information on the number of public library openings.

Barbara Follett: Information on the number of public libraries is published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in Public Library Statistics. This is the most comprehensive source of data on public library services in the UK. In order to avoid excessive data burdens on local authorities, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not collate additional information about library service provision centrally.

Tourism

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to promote the UK as a tourist destination to those overseas.

Barbara Follett: VisitBritain is currently formulating its new three-year strategy based on the many recommendations of the recent British Tourism Framework Review. This sets out the steps that VisitBritain will take between 2009-2012 to increase the visitor economy to 133 billion by 2018. The strategy was launched on 11 February.
	VisitBritain announced a new marketing campaign 'Value for Money' at the Liverpool Tourism Summit on 8th January 2009 costing 6.5 million. This will include the promotion of London as a more affordable destination at the present time. In addition, the Government will continue to invest in skills and in tourism product itself. This will include the quality of accommodation; the Olympics and Paralympic games; the Cultural Olympiad; free museums and galleries; heritage and seaside resorts, which are all critical to meeting visitor expectations and their demand for an exceptional experience.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

AWE Aldermaston

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the decision was taken to transfer RWE Aldermaston to Jacobs.

Ian Pearson: After consultation between BERR (then DTI) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the decision to undertake the process of selling the British Nuclear Fuels Limited (BNFL) one-third stake in AWE Management Limited (AWEML) was taken at the end of June 2007 and was announced to Parliament on 16 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1WS, before the process commenced.
	AWEML is the consortium of BNFL, Serco and Lockheed Martin) that has the 25-year contract with the MOD to manage and operate the Atomic Weapons Establishment on MOD's behalf. The Government have not transferred or sold any of its stake in the Atomic Weapons Establishment itself, which remains entirely owned by the MOD and in which UK sovereignty remains protected.
	It became clear during the summer of 2008 that the bid from Jacobs Engineering Group was the most attractive and the decision to accept that bid was agreed by BERR Ministers on 25 September 2008 subject to finalisation of various contractual matters. The contract confirming the deal was finally signed by BNFL and Jacobs on 17 December 2008.

Bankruptcy

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many individuals were declared bankrupt in  (a) St Albans constituency,  (b) Hertfordshire,  (c) the East of England and  (d) England and Wales in each of the last 12 months for which information is available.

Patrick McFadden: Table 1 following shows the number of bankruptcies in  (a) St. Albans constituency,  (b) Hertfordshire,  (c) the East of England and  (d) England and Wales in each month of 2007, derived from postcodes provided by bankrupt individuals(1,2).
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  2007  St. Albans constituency  Hertfordshire  East of England  England and Wales 
			 January 13 117 646 5,600 
			 February 8 111 636 5,637 
			 March 11 121 716 6,700 
			 April 7 88 630 5,305 
			 May 3 96 566 5,647 
			 June 11 107 597 5,537 
			 July 8 93 597 5,453 
			 August 12 104 571 5,309 
			 September 12 101 524 4,838 
			 October 5 92 573 5,416 
			 November 4 100 629 5,408 
			 December 4 75 449 3,630 
			 Total 98 1,205 7,134 64,480 
		
	
	(1) Classifying bankrupts into administrative geographies is done using the postcode that the bankrupt individual provides. The use of this in assigning an individual to a borough is thus only as reliable as the postcode information provided.
	(2) In particular, inaccurate or missing postcodes mean that the numbers in the aforementioned table will be subject to an element of missing data. Nationally, this proportion has been decreasing from about 12 per cent. in 2000 to less than 4 per cent. in 2007.

Bankruptcy

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people have applied for  (a) bankruptcy and  (b) an individual voluntary arrangement in (i) North West Cambridgeshire, (ii) Cambridgeshire, (iiii) the East of England and (iv) England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Patrick McFadden: The following tables show the number of bankruptcies (table A) and individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) (table B) in (i) North West Cambridgeshire constituency, (ii) Cambridgeshire, (iii) the East of England and (iv) England and Wales in each year between 2000 and 2007. This information is derived from postcodes provided by bankrupt individuals(1,2). Earlier figures are not available on this basis and figures for 2008 are not yet available.
	
		
			  Table A: Bankruptcies 
			   North West Cambridgeshire constituency  Cambridgeshire  East of England  England and  Wales( 1) 
			 2000 41 193 2,014 21,550 
			 2001 54 252 2,471 23,477 
			 2002 42 216 2,463 24,292 
			 2003 58 294 2,998 28,021 
			 2004 74 391 3,854 35,898 
			 2005 88 527 5,346 47,291 
			 2006 114 661 7,015 62,956 
			 2007 140 686 7,134 64,480 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: IVAs 
			   North West Cambridgeshire constituency  Cambridgeshire  East of England  England and Wales( 1) 
			 2000 13 81 616 7,978 
			 2001 18 73 532 6,298 
			 2002 16 61 547 6,295 
			 2003 7 70 617 7,583 
			 2004 26 113 991 10,752 
			 2005 57 257 2,200 20,293 
			 2006 116 469 4,761 44,332 
			 2007 109 424 4,445 42,165 
			 (1) Figures for England and Wales are the official, published totals. 
		
	
	(1) Classifying bankrupts and IVAs into administrative geographies is done using the postcode that the insolvent individual provides. The use of this in assigning an individual to a borough is thus only as reliable as the postcode information provided.
	(2) In particular, inaccurate or missing postcodes mean that the numbers in the above table will be subject to an element of missing data. Nationally, this proportion has been decreasing from about 12 per cent. in 2000 to less than 4 per cent. in 2007.

Bankruptcy: Cambridgeshire

James Paice: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many businesses in Cambridgeshire were declared bankrupt in each of the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: Self-employed traders may be declared bankrupt (or enter into an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA)), however, registered companies are the subject of liquidation (compulsory liquidation or creditors voluntary liquidation (CVL)).
	It is not currently possible, from information held centrally in electronic format, to count the number of insolvent companies in Cambridgeshire. However the following table shows the number of self-employed bankrupts in each month of 2007 (the latest for which information is currently available for Cambridgeshire), derived from postcodes provided by bankrupt individuals(1,2).
	
		
			  Cambridgeshire self-employed bankrupts in 2007 
			   Number 
			 January 7 
			 February 9 
			 March 10 
			 April 3 
			 May 2 
			 June 7 
			 July 5 
			 August 3 
			 September 5 
			 October 0 
			 November 7 
			 December 5 
			 (1) Classifying bankrupts into administrative geographies is done using the postcode that the bankrupt individual provides. The use of this in assigning an individual to a borough is thus only as reliable as the postcode information provided. (2) In particular, inaccurate or missing postcodes mean that the numbers in the above table will be subject to an element of missing data. Nationally, this proportion has been decreasing from about 12 per cent. in 2000 to less than 4 per cent. in 2007. 
		
	
	Similar information is not available for individual voluntary arrangements entered into by the self-employed.

Broadband

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects broadband internet access to be available for everybody who wants it nationwide.

Patrick McFadden: Broadband internet is available now to over 99 per cent. of households connected to a broadband enabled telephone exchange and broadband via satellite is geographically available nationwide.

Broadband

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department has spent on enabling broadband internet access in each year since 1997.

Patrick McFadden: The Department has directly spent around 47 million on enabling broadband internet access since 1997, this excludes spending by the Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies. This funding was to encourage '1st generation' broadband take up. The breakdown of the spending is set out as follows.
	UK Broadband Fund: 30 million for projects to encourage broadband roll out in the regions across the UK from 2002-05
	Broadband Task Force: 86,000 from 2004-05
	Broadband Aggregation: 17 million from 2003-05
	Community Broadband Network: Part funding of 30,000 in 2004
	Broadband Awareness Portal Project: 40,000 in 2004-05

Broadband

Nigel Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and  (b) Ofcom on NESTA's proposal to extend the geographical scope of provision of high-speed broadband.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 28 January 2009
	I have not had recent discussions with the NESTA or Ofcom on NESTA's proposal to extend the geographical scope of provision of high-speed broadband.

Broadband

Nigel Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the likely effects on the economy of nationwide access to high-speed broadband.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 28 January 2009
	As part of the Digital Britain report the Department has made interim assessments of the likely effects on the economy of nationwide access to high-speed broadband by reviewing the range of reports and analysis available on this subject.
	I recognise the potential importance of high-speed broadband and its potential to positively affect the UK's competitiveness. The Government believe that investment in new broadband networks opens the way to a whole range of job opportunities, both during and post construction of the new networks. The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) estimates that universal super-fast broadband in the UK could directly create 600,000 new ICT jobs and add 18 billion to GDP over four years with even larger indirect benefit. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation published a similar study of the impact investment in network infrastructures could have in the USA.
	It is important therefore for the Government, under the Digital Britain Report to examine the impact of network improvements can have on the UK's employment and competitiveness in the digital economy.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Hugo Swire: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to ensure high speed broadband provision in rural areas, with specific reference to East Devon; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The Government recently published the interim report on Digital Britain, which aims to help accelerate the rate of growth, and cement the UK's position as a world leader in the knowledge and learning economy. This set out our intention to develop plans for a digital Universal Service Commitment to be effective by 2012. Alongside the interim report, the Government also published their response to the Caio Review on broadband, agreeing to the recommendations in that report and setting out how we will act to implement them.
	In addition, Ofcom is continuing to consult on the appropriate regulatory framework for next generation broadband.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Nigel Evans: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received on the extension of provision of high-speed broadband access to rural areas.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 28 January 2009
	Since the announcement of the Digital Britain Report on 17 October, the Department has received representations on extension of provision of high-speed broadband access to rural areas in the form of correspondence from a Member of the Scottish Parliament and Members of Parliament, on behalf of constituents and from their own interest, as well as a parliamentary questions.

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which websites are operated by his Department in addition to its main website; and what the operating budget for those websites is.

Patrick McFadden: Below is a list of websites operated by the Department in addition to the main www.berr.gov.uk site.
	Regarding operating budgets, the Department does not hold this information centrally, and it could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. As of April 2009, all Government Departments will measure website costs in line with guidance from the Central Office of Information.
	Auto Industry
	www.autoindustry.co.uk
	Competitiveness Indicators 2002
	esdata4/competitiveness/
	E-Commerce Awards
	www.ecommerce-awards.co.uk
	Electronic Payments
	www.electronic-payments.co.uk
	Security health check
	www.securityhealthcheck.berr.gov.uk/
	Better regulation executive portal
	www.betterregulation.gov.uk
	Economic and Statistics
	http://stats.berr.gov.uk/statistics
	(old URLwww.dtistats.net)
	Goods checker
	www.ecochecker.co.uk/goodschecker/
	OGEL export licence system
	www.ecochecker.co.uk/OGELchecker/
	Spire export licence system
	www.spire.berr.gov.uk/
	Oil and Gas
	www.og.berr.gov.uk/
	www.og.dti.gov.uk
	Shareholder Executive
	www.shareholderexecutive.gov.uk
	Agriculture and Environment Bio-technology Commission (AEBC)
	http://www.aebc.gov.uk/
	Enemy Property Payment Scheme
	www.enemyproperty.gov.uk
	Queen's Awards
	www.queensawards.org.uk
	Constructionline
	www.constructionline.co.uk/
	Firework Safety
	www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks/

Departmental Internet

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which websites were operated by his Department in addition to its main website since its inception.

Patrick McFadden: Following is a list of websites operated or formerly operated by the Department for Business. Many of the sites listed are no longer in operation or have been transferred to other Government Departments as a result of machinery of government changes.
	Auto Industry
	www.autoindustry.co.uk
	Competitiveness Indicators 2002
	www.esdata4/competitiveness/
	E-Commerce Awards
	www.ecommerce-awards.co.uk
	Electronic Payments
	www.electronic-payments.co.uk
	Security health check
	www.securityhealthcheck.berr.gov.uk/
	Better regulation executive portal
	www.betterregulation.gov.uk
	Economic and Statistics
	http://stats.berr.gov.uk/statistics (old URL www.dtistats.net)
	Goods checker
	www.ecochecker.co.uk/goodschecker/
	OGEL export licence system
	www.ecochecker.co.uk/OGELchecker/
	Spireexport licence system
	www.spire.berr.gov.uk/
	Oil and Gas
	www.og.berr.gov.uk/www.og.dti.gov.uk
	Shareholder Executive
	www.shareholderexecutive.gov.uk
	Agriculture and Environment Bio-technology Commission (AEBC)
	http://www.aebc.gov.uk/
	Enemy Property Payment Scheme
	www.enemyproperty.gov.uk
	Queen's Awards
	www.queensawards.org.uk
	Construction line
	www.constructionline.co.uk/
	Firework Safety
	www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks/
	Closed or content moved to other Government Departments:
	Corporate Social Responsibility
	www.csr.gov.uk
	Accounting for People
	www.accountingforpeople.gov.uk
	Basic Technologies for Industrial Applications Programme
	www.basictechnologies.gov.uk
	Bio-Wise
	www.biowise.org.uk
	Cabinet Office Better Regulation Executive
	www.bre.berr.gov.uk/regulation/
	Communications White Paper
	www.communicationswhitepaper.gov.uk/
	e-Science
	www.escience-grid.org.uk
	Global Watch Online
	www.globalwatchonline.com
	OSDA (LINK Optical Systems for the Digital Age)
	www.osda.org.uk/www.photonics.org.uk/
	Pay on time (aka Better payment practice campaign)
	www.payontime.co.uk
	Photonics (LINK Information Storage and Displays Program)
	www.linkisd.org.uk/
	http://www.photonics.org.uk/ (2 URLS for same website)
	Quality Mark
	www.qualitymark.org.uk
	Security at Work
	www.securityatwork.org.uk
	Security survey results site
	www.security-survey.gov.uk
	Society and Business
	www.societyandbusiness.gov.uk
	UK Information Society Programmes
	www.ukishelp.co.uk
	British National Space Centre
	www.bnsc.gov.uk
	Foresight
	www.foresight.gov.uk
	Future and Innovation Unit
	www.innovation.gov.uk/
	www.berr.gov.uk/innovation/
	ICT Carrier Programme
	www.ictcarrier.co.uk/
	www.ictcarrier.co.uk/indexB.html
	Inspired leadership
	www.inspiredleadership.org.uk
	National Weights and Measures Laboratory
	www.nwml.gov.uk
	Near Earth Objects
	www.nearearthobjects.co.uk
	GM Science Review
	www.gmsciencedebate.org.uk

Departmental Public Appointments

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which of the public appointments for which his Department is responsible are due to be  (a) renewed and  (b) filled in the next 24 months; what the (i) remit, (ii) salary, (iii) political restriction, (iv) eligibility requirement and (v) timetable for each appointment is; and what records his Department keeps in respect of such appointments.

Patrick McFadden: Information on appointments made by the Department is published online at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/aboutus/publicappointments/index.html
	More detailed information about individual appointments is set out in the relevant body's Annual Report. Vacancies may be advertised on the Cabinet Office Public Appointments website at:
	www.publicappointments.gov.uk
	The process for making a public appointment, including guidance on political activity and eligibility criteria, follows the Cabinet Office publication Making and Managing Public Appointments. For appointments regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, the appointments process also complies with the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies. Copies are in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Public Relations

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost of his Department's contracts with public relations consultancies was in each year since it was established.

Patrick McFadden: The Department spent the following via the Central Office of Information (COI) and directly with public relations agencies in the last full financial year 2007-08:
	Geronimo Communications, Enterprising Britain: 172,630.27
	Gavin Anderson (UK) Ltd, Renewable energy: 109,326.38
	GCI London, Employing People: 30,030
	Highlight PR, Queen's Awards: 17,254.61
	Trimedia Harrison Cowley Ltd, Fireworks safety: 15,000
	Trimedia Harrison Cowley Ltd, Consumer Protection Regulations: 73,000.
	This includes spend by the former DTI before the establishment of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in June 2007.

Departmental Recycling

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much  (a) paper,  (b) plastic and  (c) other waste was produced by his Department in each year since its establishment; and what proportion of such waste was recycled.

Patrick McFadden: Since it was formed on 28 June 2007, BERR has produced the following weights of paper, plastics and other waste on its HQ estate, with the proportion recycled shown in brackets:
	
		
			  Tonnes 
			   Paper  Recycled (%)  Plastics  Recycled (%)  Other waste  Recycled (%) 
			 2007-08 335.7 (100) 6.9 (100) 378.6 (1.2) 
			 2008-09 (Apr-Dec) 305.0 (100) 9.4 (100) 220.7 (5.8) 
		
	
	It is not possible to separate out the waste recycling figures for BERR and DIUS at Kingsgate House, since they are co-located.

Departmental Secondment

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on how many occasions  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department have (i) met and (ii) talked on the telephone to representatives of (A) Anglo American plc, (B) BHP Billiton plc, (C) Rio Tinto plc, (D) Vedanta plc and (E) Xstrata plc since April 2007; and how many staff from each such company have been seconded to his Department in that period.

Patrick McFadden: There were two meetings and one telephone discussion between BERR Ministers and Rio Tinto plc over this period. In addition we have identified two meetings and one telephone discussion between the Permanent Secretary and Rio Tinto. He also met with BHP Billiton pc on one occasion.
	The Chief Executive of Anglo American plc is a member of the Business Council for Britain and has attended two meetings since her appointment at which BERR Ministers were present. The Permanent Secretary was also at one of these meetings. In addition, there has been one-face-to face meeting between the Chief Executive of Anglo American and BERR Ministers over this period.
	No meetings or discussions with Verdanta plc or Xstrata plc have taken place since April 2007 involving BERR Ministers or the Permanent Secretary.
	There has been regular contact between BERR officials and companies in the mining sector, but to identify all these discussions would incur disproportionate cost as this information is not held centrally. No staff from these companies have been seconded to the Department over this period.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

David Chaytor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will publish each of the producer compliance schemes established under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations; and how much waste equipment  (a) is required to be collected and  (b) was collected in the latest period for which figures are available under each scheme.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 5 February 2009
	 The Environment Agency in England and Wales and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are responsible for approving Producer Compliance Schemes (PSC) under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. A list of approved PCSs is available at
	www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
	The collection data requested are not available as they are commercially sensitive.

EU Internal Trade

William Cash: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will bring forward legislative proposals to provide equal rights in employment for UK nationals in the United Kingdom to those afforded under  (a) the EU Posted Workers Directive and  (b) other EU legislation.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 February 2009
	 Such legislation is already in place: all workers in the UK, whether they are UK citizens, migrant or posted workers have the same key employment rights.

EU Internal Trade

William Cash: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the European Commission has taken since the Forum on Workers' Rights and Economic Freedom in October 2008 to safeguard the rights of posted workers within the UK.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 February 2009
	The Council of Ministers and the European Commission have invited the social partners to analyse the challenges posed by the expansion in the various forms of labour mobility in the Union and in particular of their impact on the European Union's competitiveness, protection of workers' rights, the functioning of national labour markets, and the various modes of industrial relations, taking account of recent rulings of the European Court of Justice. The Commission's high level committee of experts will examine ways to improve the implementation of the directive and to exchange information, experience and good practice.

EU Internal Trade

William Cash: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the expert committee on the posting of workers established after the meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council on 9 June 2008.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 February 2009
	After the Council meeting on 9 June 2008, the Commission was asked to set up an expert committee to examine questions and difficulties which might arise in the practical application of the posting of worker legislation. The Commission published details of the Committee's remit on 18 December 2008 (Commission document C (2008) 8640 final). I look forward to the conclusions of this group.

Fire Services: Working Hours

Alan Beith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the potential effect of levels of fire cover provided by retained firefighters of the provisions of the EU Working Time Directive.

Patrick McFadden: The UK Government recognise that losing the individual's right to opt-out of the 48 hour working week as set by the working time directive, would have a detrimental effect on the hours which firefighters working the retained duty system could be available for duty, especially the substantial numbers who work full-time for their primary employer. Many other workers also use this important flexibility and so and we remain firmly of the view that this right should remain. We, along with a majority of other member states will be fighting for the retention of the opt-out as this dossier progresses through the European negotiation process.
	Official both from my Department and the Department for Communities and Local Government have worked very closely with the Retained Firefighters' Union and will continue to keep them informed throughout the process.

Israel: Arms Trade

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which arms export licences for arms sales to Israel have been approved in each of the last five years; and which of those licences were for components intended to be incorporated into larger equipment for onward export to third countries.

Ian Pearson: The Government publish detailed information on export licences issued, refused and revoked, by destination, including the overall value and a summary of the items covered by these licences, in its Annual and Quarterly Reports on Strategic Export Controls. Information on export licences issued for incorporation before onward export is given separately for each destination in the Reports.
	The Government's Annual Reports, published since 1997, and Quarterly Reports, published since 2004, are available from the Libraries of the House and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/publications/publications/annual-reports/export-controlsl

Manufacturing: Government Assistance

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what financial assistance the Government is providing to  (a) commercial vehicle manufacturing companies and  (b) JCB; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement I made on the support for the automotive sector on 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 165-67.

Members: Correspondence

Richard Shepherd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many responses to letters received in his Department from hon. Members were outstanding in each month since September 2008.

Patrick McFadden: To date the Department has the following letters from hon. Members outstanding:
	
		
			   Number 
			 September 2008 7 
			 October 2008 18 
			 November 2008 67 
			 December 2008 281 
			 January 2009 240 
		
	
	The majority of letters outstanding from December 2008 and January 2009 are concerns around the current economic difficulties faced by consumers and small businesses and are being answered as quickly as possible.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Secretary of State plans to reply to the letter of 22 December 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. M. Gutteridge.

Patrick McFadden: The issue raised by my right hon. Friend falls within the portfolio of Her Majesty's Treasury, your letter was transferred on 5 February and you will receive a response in due course.

Members: Correspondence

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Woking of 25 November 2008 on Cookson Electronics.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 9 February 2009
	The matter raised by the hon. Member fell within the portfolio of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The letter was officially transferred and the hon. Member was informed on 22 December 2008.

Minimum Wage: Social Security Benefits

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people have had their benefits uprated as a result of the national minimum wage in  (a) the UK,  (b) England,  (c) the North East and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Patrick McFadden: The answer given relates directly to the number of workers affected by the national minimum wage uprating in the form of higher wages and does not take account any change in state benefit.
	Information on earnings is taken from the ONS' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) dataset for 2008. Information for individual parliamentary constituencies is not readily available in the ASHE dataset, however, information is available on a Government office region basis.
	 (a) The number of workers in the UK that stand to benefit directly in the form of higher hourly wages from the October 2008 national minimum wage upratings is estimated to be around 1,125,000.
	 (b) The number of workers in England that stand to benefit directly in the form of higher hourly wages from the October 2008 national minimum wage upratings is estimated to be around 906,000.
	 (c) In the North East, 64,000 workers are estimated to benefit directly from higher hourly wages as a result of the October 2008 national minimum wage upratings.

Mobile Phones: Contracts

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will review the decision of Ofcom not to require the UK's telecommunications sector to reduce its mobile termination rates, with particular reference to the likely effect of the decision on consumers.

Patrick McFadden: I do not intend to review Ofcom's action on mobile termination rates. In March 2007 Ofcom published a market review statement for the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2011 following a two-year market review and extensive industry consultation. This statement is currently subject to two appeals before the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the Competition Commission. The outcome of these appeals will determine the appropriate mobile termination rates in the near term.

Mobile Phones: Contracts

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department has made a recent estimate of the cost to UK consumers of  (a) maintaining the current mobile termination rate regime and  (b) introducing the new rates proposed by the European Commission.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 22 January 2009
	Mobile termination rates are regulated by Ofcom and the benefit to consumers has a central place in reaching decisions on the appropriate rates. The Commission have issued a draft Recommendation for consultation and Ofcom and other European regulators are in discussion with the Commission about the approach taken. If the recommendation is issued, Ofcom will take the utmost account of the recommendation.

Mobile Phones: Rural Areas

Robert Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make it his policy to require mobile telephone companies to maintain high standards of signal coverage in rural areas.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 3 February 2009
	 There are currently no regulatory requirements for the mobile network operators or constraints under the terms of their 2G and 3G licences for provision of signal coverage in rural areas. Although a population coverage requirement is a condition of their licences, Ofcom are satisfied that this has in all cases been met. The Government believe that competitive pressure between each operator is fed by information about the markets in which they operate, providing the best basis upon which they can decide whether or not to build mast base stations in areas where signal coverage is poor.
	However, the Government are keen to ensure that the benefits of digital technology are enjoyed by as many people as possible. As part of the Digital Britain Interim Report, published on 29 January 2009, we propose a universal service commitment for broadband data. By the publication of the final Digital Britain Report, we will develop plans for a universal service, which will include the role of mobile technologies. We will additionally consider further network, spectrum or carrier-sharing proposals from the operators, particularly where these can lead to greater coverage levels throughout the country.

Motor Vehicles

John Hemming: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will provide credit guarantee support for the purchase of vehicles to provide support for the motor industry.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made in the House on 27 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 165-67.

Motor Vehicles: Government Assistance

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the Statement of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 165-67, on the automotive industry, on support for the automotive industry, if he will ensure that the plan to be drawn up by Lord Davies on access to finance will include commercial vehicle financing.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 3 February 2009
	 Financing for commercial vehicles will be included in the discussions on access to finance for the automotive industry.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the support package for the automotive industry includes elements of support for the development of  (a) plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and  (b) vehicle to grid smart charging technology.

Ian Pearson: The package I announced on 27 January 2009 will provide loan guarantees to Britain's automotive manufacturers and large suppliers to support investment in low carbon plant and research and development. The criteria of the schemes need to be agreed with the European Commission, however it is intended that projects could include support for the development of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
	On 15 January 2009, Secretary of State for Transport announced 250 million funding to encourage consumers to buy ultra-low carbon cars and electric vehicles and targeted support for electric vehicle charging infrastructure provision. In addition, the Department for Transport's 20 million public procurement programme will help demonstrate lower carbon and all-electric vans and the Technology Strategy Board's 10 million competition will showcase ultra low carbon cars.

Official Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what cars of what engine cubic capacity are  (a) owned and  (b) leased by his Department.

Patrick McFadden: BERR currently holds five leased vehicles, details of which are as follows:
	
		
			   Engine cc 
			 Peugeot 207 Diesel Hatchback 1.4 1398 
			 Peugeot 207 Diesel Hatchback 1.4 1398 
			 Peugeot 307 Diesel Hatchback 1.6 1560 
			 Renault Clio Hatchback 1.2 1149 
			 Ford Fiesta Hatchback 1.25 1242 
		
	
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 10W, about cars provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Overseas Companies: EU Countries

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what UK-owned  (a) companies and  (b) construction companies are taking part in major infrastructure projects in each other EU member state; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Department does not collect this information.

Post Offices

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on how many occasions the Ministerial Committee on the Post Office Network has met since its formation; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when, how often and for how long they meet, is generally not disclosed; as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Redundancy

Theresa May: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many notifications his Department and its predecessor received of businesses making redundancies of 20 employees or more in each  (a) year since 1997 and  (b) month of the last two years for which figures are available, broken down by (i) region, (ii) local authority and (iii) parliamentary constituency.

Patrick McFadden: Employers who propose to make 20 or more redundancies at one establishment are required to notify the Secretary Of State of the proposal under provisions contained in the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Information on those notifications is only held from January 2006. I have detailed in the following table the number of notifications received for each month from January 2006 to December 2008. The records are not maintained in the format the hon. Member have requested so I regret that I am unable to break them down by region, local authority areas, or parliamentary constituencies.
	
		
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 January 35,133 32,325 29,626 
			 February 32,038 21,205 19,875 
			 March 27,288 67,232 34,149 
			 April 21,635 18,055 30,222 
			 May 33,578 20,688 26,387 
			 June 23,950 26,919 18,720 
			 July 21,122 23,985 37,505 
			 August 27,971 62,960 18,177 
			 September 35,031 40,068 30,691 
			 October 26,247 33,360 42,829 
			 November 48,754 17,034 45,855 
			 December 19,248 36,434 69,660 
			 Total 351,995 400,265 403,696

Regional Development Agencies: Public Relations

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much each of the regional development agencies has spent on external public relations in the last 24 months; and what firms each contracted to provide such services.

Patrick McFadden: The following figures refer specifically to the corporate promotion of each RDA and their respective projects during the 24 month period of January 2007 to December 2008. They do not include expenditure on tourism initiatives, marketing of the region, printing, graphic design, or the production of required documentation such as annual reports or accounts.
	During the past 24 months YF, EEDA, EMDA and ONE have spent nothing on external PR firms. These agencies manage their corporate promotion in-house.
	
		
			  RDA  PR firms  Total spend on external PR in the last 24 months (000) 
			 AWM Various independent freelance photographers(1) 83 
			
			 LDA Freud Communications 461 
			  Forster  
			  Caro Communications  
			
			 NWDA Creative Concern 20 
			  Tamesis Business Comms  
			
			 SEEDA 2therefore Ltd. 249 
			  Bottle PR Ltd.  
			  Colman Getty London Ltd.  
			  Dr. Baumer Consultants  
			  Murray-Hayward Communications  
			  Serco Group Ltd.  
			  Steven Associates  
			  The Twelve Consultancy  
			
			 SWRDA Deborah Clark PR 706 
			  Aylesworth Fleming  
			  Golley Slater  
			  Carmargue  
			  Caroline Harris PR  
			  GCI London  
			  Trimedia Harrison Cowley  
			  Financial Dynamics  
			 (1) AWM does not retain external support for corporate PR activities although AWM does incur photography costs associated with the delivery of its corporate PR function.

Renewable Energy: Export Credit Guarantees

Gregory Barker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to increase take-up of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's 50 million annual underwriting fund for the renewable energy industry.

Ian Pearson: ECGD cover remains available for UK renewables exporters and the Department continues to work with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, UK Trade and Investment and renewables trade associations to raise awareness of the support available. ECGD's engagement with, and research into, the market indicates that very few UK renewables companies currently plan to export to markets where ECGD support is relevant. The Department is, however, following up a number of potential longer-term prospects with the companies concerned.

Retail Trade: Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many retail enterprises were in operation in  (a) the area covered by Hambleton and Harrogate councils and  (b) Yorkshire in each of the last 10 years.

Ian Pearson: Statistical data relating solely to retail enterprises are not available at regional or district level. The estimated number of businesses in Standard Industrial Classification Group G (wholesale, retail and repair) registered for VAT at the end of each calendar year in Hambleton, Harrogate and the Yorkshire and The Humber region is set out in the following table. 2007 is the latest year for which data are available.
	
		
			  VAT stocks at year end in SIC Group G (wholesale, retail and repair) 
			   Local authority district Hambleton  Local authority district Harrogate  Yorkshire and The Humber Region 
			 1998 720 1,420 33,035 
			 1999 735 1,415 32,750 
			 2000 735 1,410 32,555 
			 2001 735 1,400 32,135 
			 2002 735 1,385 31,905 
			 2003 745 1,390 32,290 
			 2004 750 1,390 32,570 
			 2005 765 1,430 32,980 
			 2006 780 1,455 33,150 
			 2007 800 1,480 33,445 
			  Note:  VAT figures do not give the complete picture of the number of businesses in the economy. Businesses operating below the VAT threshold are not automatically included, although some businesses do voluntarily register for VAT even though their turnover is below the threshold. It is estimated that at UK level 42 per cent. of businesses are registered for VAT.  Source:  Office for National Statistics Inter-Departmental Business Register via NOMIS.

Retirement: Age

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will bring forward proposals to  (a) prohibit employers from operating a mandatory requirement age and  (b) remove the national default retirement age provided for in the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006.

Patrick McFadden: The UK does not have a national mandatory retirement age. Employers do not have to retire employees once they reach 65. They are free to continue to employ them as long as they like, and employees are entitled to request to continue working beyond 65. The default retirement age allows employers to use retirement at 65 as a tool for workforce planning. If an employer wishes to operate a normal retirement age that is lower than 65 they must objectively justify it.
	We are monitoring the legislation as we said we would when it was introduced. We will take due account of all the up to date information available in ensuring we arrive at an appropriate outcome in our review planned for 2011.

Royal Mail

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much Royal Mail has set aside for modernisation projects.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	The Government have made available 1.2 billion of loan facilities to enable Royal Mail to implement its modernisation plans.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Royal Mail

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will place in the Library a copy of Royal Mail's Strategic Plan.

Patrick McFadden: Royal Mail's strategic plan is a commercially confidential document and it would therefore not be appropriate to place a copy in the Library of the House.

Royal Mail

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of Royal Mail the Government plan to sell to a private sector partner; and what price the Government intends to charge for that stake.

Patrick McFadden: Government will maintain our manifesto commitment to a Royal Mail which remains in public ownership and will therefore retain a majority stake to safeguard the vital services it provides.
	However, it is too early at this stage to speculate as to what the precise details of any minority share sale will be as they are subject to negotiations with the potential partner. Once we are in a position to announce such details we will do so.

Royal Mail

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much will be paid annually to the new Chairman of Royal Mail in  (a) salary,  (b) pension contributions and  (c) other expenses and allowances; and what the equivalent remuneration figures for his predecessor were.

Patrick McFadden: The new Chairman, Donald Brydon, will receive remuneration of 200,000 per year. There is no pension associated with this non-executive Chairman post. There is no set amount for expenses. This will be determined on an actual basis.
	This overall package is the same as that for Allan Leighton.

Small Businesses: Bankruptcy

Maria Miller: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many small businesses have closed in each quarter of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: Quarterly data on business closures are not available.
	Data on enterprise closures from the Office for National Statistics Business Demography publication are available on an annual basis. Data for the years 2003 to 2007 are shown in the following table. Data for 2008 will be available in late 2009.
	
		
			   Thousand 
			   Enterprise closures, UK 
			 2003 232 
			 2004 244 
			 2005 228 
			 2006 209 
			 2007 228 
			  Source: ONS Business Demography 2007. Available at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=15186Pos=ColRank=1Rank=422 
		
	
	These data cover enterprises of all sizes since data for small enterprises only are not available.

Wind Power: Steel

Dai Davies: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the opportunities which exist for the manufacture of wind turbines from steel made in the United Kingdom; and whether he has made an assessment of the implications for the United Kingdom steel industry of an expanded capacity of the on and off-shore wind power industry.

Ian Pearson: The UK steel industry is a key supplier of steel to wind turbine sector. Corus has supplied steel to the renewable energy sector for a number of years, including for the production of onshore and offshore wind towers. The Government anticipate strengthening demand for steel from this sector as our policies place target an increased use of renewable energy sources alongside reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation.
	The UK has the largest potential wind energy in Europe and the technology for both onshore and offshore wind power is currently one of the most developed and cost effective of all renewable technologies. Corus has key customers through the supply chainfrom the tower fabricators to the wind turbine manufacturers. Corus will continue to work with its key customers and the Government to identify opportunities to maximise the value that can be obtained from the sector for the UK.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Impact Assessments

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many equalities impact assessments his Department has undertaken in the last 12 month period for which figures are available; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of such assessments.

Ivan Lewis: During 2008 the Department for International Development (DFID) undertook 11 Equality Impact Assessments. No estimate has been made of the cost of these assessments, as they were carried out by staff as part of their everyday duties.

Departmental Pensions

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to advise staff of pension options available to them in relation to added years or additional voluntary contributions.

Ivan Lewis: Members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme receive an annual benefit statement showing the pension built up to date, and also a projection of their pension on retirement if they continue in service to scheme pension age. The benefit statement prompts the member to consider boosting their pension and provides details of the civil service pensions website where staff can obtain further information, including options for making additional voluntary contributions and a calculator to work out costs for added pension (previously added years).
	New entrants are informed of pension options in the employment offer and are provided with a pension information pack.
	Cabinet Office provides leaflets that explain added pension and additional voluntary contributions for members. The information is also available in scheme booklets. These are available on the Civil Service Pensions website or on request from the member's pensions administrator. In addition to this, a notice outlining the added pension facility was displayed on the Department for International Development's (DFID) internal web pages on a number of occasions throughout January.

Departmental Redundancy

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1319-20W, on redundancy, what estimate he has made of the annual payroll savings accruing to his Department as a result of staff exit schemes in  (a) 2005-06,  (b) 2006-07,  (c) 2007-08 and  (d) 2008-09 excluding the cost of severance packages; and what estimate he has made of the equivalent figures for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

Douglas Alexander: No estimates have been made of DFID's annual payroll savings as a result of staff exit schemes.

Departmental Working Hours

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many days off in lieu were granted to staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies for working (i) in lunch breaks and (ii) at other times outside contracted hours, in the last year for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: Information on the number of days off in lieu granted to staff in the Department for International Development (DFID) cannot be provided since the information is not centrally recorded.

Developing Countries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much of his Department's budget for 2008-09 has been spent on addressing the effects of climate change in developing countries;
	(2)  how much of his Department's budget for 2008-09 has been spent on combating  (a) AIDS,  (b) malaria,  (c) cholera and  (d) polio;
	(3)  how much of his Department's budget for 2008-09 has been spent on education in developing countries;
	(4)  how much of his Department's budget for 2008-09 has been spent on providing access to clean water in developing countries;
	(5)  how much of his Department's budget for 2008-09 has been spent on providing emergency  (a) food and  (b) shelter.

Michael Foster: Details of DFID's 2008-09 spending are not yet available but will be published in our 2009 annual report in July. The most recently available data can be found in Statistics on International Development 2008, which was published in November 2008 and is available online:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/sid2008/contents.asp

Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food Security

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what proposals his Department has brought forward for a Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food Security; how much funding his Department plans to provide to such a partnership; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with his  (a) EU and  (b) G8 counterparts on the proposed Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food Security; which of these counterparts have (i) indicated a willingness to join the partnership and (ii) committed funds to it; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: In June 2008 at the Rome Food Summit, the Secretary of State called for an international partnership for agriculture and food to deliver an ambitious and sustained increase in our collective efforts to tackle world hunger.
	Subsequently DFID has worked intensively with other donors, the UN High Level Task Force on Global Food Security and other stakeholders to take this forward. The UK worked within the G8 to secure food security as a key priority for the Toyako summit in July. G8 leaders called for the establishment of a Global Partnership for Agriculture and Food and established a G8 Working Group on Global Food Security in which the UK has been proactive. We have also engaged closely with the European Commission through the Working Party on Development Cooperation (CODEV). The result is sold donor consensus on the need for more and better support for food security, social protection and agricultural development and for a global mechanism to help deliver a comprehensive and co-ordinated international response to hunger.
	The recent High Level Meeting on Food Security for All, hosted by Ban Ki Moon and President Zapatero in Madrid, agreed to launch a formal consultation process for the establishment of a Global Partnership for Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition (GPAFSN) which will fully engage all relevant stakeholders.
	Given the existence of the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the World Bank's multi-donor trust fund for rapid response to countries badly affected by the recent food crisis, the GPAFSN is not conceived as a new global fund. A small secretariat is envisaged, with its main role being to co-ordinate among the various UN agencies, donors, partner countries and other stakeholders who are serious and ambitious in stepping up joint efforts to reduce global hunger.
	Over $15 billion of new funding has already been announced since the food crisis began last year. G8 leaders announced some $10 billion of new commitments at their summit in Toyako. A further $1.75 billion to tackle food security was announced at the UN High Level Meeting on the MDGs in New York in September. This included one billion euros from the European Commission. Spain pledged one billion euros over the next five years at the recent Madrid meeting. The World Bank has pledged to increase its annual spending on agriculture by some $2 billion per year. Within these figures, during 2008 DFID has committed over 900 million to addressing agriculture and food security, of which over 230 million has already been disbursed.
	The GPAFSN will have a crucial role in promoting the co-ordination of this funding at country level where partner governments are willing to give sustained priority to this agenda. GPAFSN will also be a forum for identifying and addressing emerging international issues, such as global grain price volatility, not appropriate for other international forums.

HIV Infection: Finance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has credited to the Global Fund for AIDS in each year since the fund's inception; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) was established in 2002. Between 2002-08, the UK Government provided a total of 359 million as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year   million 
			 2002-03 50 
			 2003-04 25 
			 2004-05 33 
			 2005-06 51 
			 2006-07 100 
			 2007-08 100 
		
	
	In September 2007, the UK made an unprecedented long term commitment of up to 1 billion for 2008-15, on the condition that the Global Fund receives good quality demand, continues to perform well, and is demonstrating sustainable impact.

Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the UK's contribution to the work of humanitarian organisations.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) undertook a detailed expenditure review last yearthe DFID Humanitarian Spend Report, showing where DFID humanitarian funds have been spent and through which partner organisations. This has been shared with non-governmental organisations. Copies of the report have been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	We regularly assess the humanitarian organisations that we fund in order to verify the impact of our contributions. This includes monitoring their performance through telephone conversations and meetings, usually supplemented by a field visit to assess work on the ground.
	DFID's core humanitarian contributions to United Nations relief agencies are accompanied by Institutional Strategies agreed with each agency. New Institutional Strategies include a performance framework which we use to assess annual performance and guide us in releasing funds.

Palestinians: Education

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the operation of the staging area in Israel for the transfer of humanitarian aid into Gaza; and what account he has taken of the effect of the recent conflict and lack of accessibility on the delivery of this aid.

Douglas Alexander: Access to Gaza is a long-standing humanitarian issue which has been exacerbated by the recent conflict.
	Staging areas are operating efficiently and have the capacity to scale up should access to Gaza and subsequent service demand from humanitarian agencies increase. As of 6 February the logistics cluster had dispatched 1,980 pallets of cargo to the Gaza strip through Kerem Shalom border crossing, for 22 humanitarian organisations. For example, the UN reports that only 20-25 types of relief items out of 4,000 needed are getting in.
	The UK Government will continue to press for improved access so that humanitarian aid is able to reach those that most need it.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the distribution of aid in Gaza;
	(2)  what recent discussions his Department has had with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency on the distribution of aid in Gaza;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to increase access to aid in Gaza;
	(4)  to what projects his Department has allocated the 27 million funding committed to meet the needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to my hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Christine Russell) on 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1351.
	Further information on the allocation of the 26.8 million of funding is available on the DFID website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support the opening of crossing points to facilitate the movement of aid into Gaza.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government, together with the EU and other actors, continues to call for immediate and unhindered access to Gaza for humanitarian aid and personnel. We continue to discuss the issue with the UN, as well as press the Government of Israel to open the crossings.

Peace Negotiations: Women

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the UK National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the needs of Afghan civil society, with particular reference to local and national women's organisations, are taken into account in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Bill Rammell: I am aware of the difficult situation many women in Afghanistan still face. Our embassy officials regularly discuss women's rights with members of the Afghan government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Afghan parliamentarians.
	The Government work to enhance the status of women in three main ways: through policy engagement with the Afghan government; through support for national programmes and services, which benefit women; and through bilateral programmes. Despite the challenges, progress has been made: over a third of children now in school are girls and we have committed over 35million to support the Afghan government's micro-finance programme, giving women in particular better access to finance. 27 per cent. of seats in the Lower House of the Afghan Parliament are held by women.
	Our main support is channelled through the Afghan government, since gender inequality is a deeply embedded and long-term problem which needs a strategic approach. We have worked, for example, with the government to ensure that gender equality is integrated into the Afghanistan National Development Strategy.
	We are giving 500,000 to support a five-year Women's Empowerment programme (2005-10), implemented by the NGO Womankind. The programme focuses on promoting women's equal participation in governance; building awareness of women's rights among civil society and policy makers; and on providing educational, health, community and psycho-social support to women affected by violence and conflict. Womankind implements its programmes through local Afghan women's NGO's, helping to build Afghan capacity.
	Since its establishment in 2002, we have given over 1.75 million to support the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), including 200,000 this year to support its 2009-10 Action Plan. The Commission is a cornerstone of Afghan civil society, with over 500 staff working to improve respect for human rights across Afghanistan. A large part of the Commission's work focuses on women's rights, including documenting and tackling violence against women.
	The AIHRC now has representatives in Helmand province, who are helping support the new Women and Children's Justice group, established in Lashkar Gah in August 2008. Run by prominent female members of the community, the Group is developing and implementing practical programmes on the ground to support women and children's rights and justice issues.
	More information on progress against the UK's National Action Plan, in Afghanistan and elsewhere, can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website, which is updated periodically:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/unscr-1325-uk-action-plan.

Peers Interests

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether Ministers in his Department received representations from  (a) Lord Moonie,  (b) Lord Taylor of Blackburn,  (c) Lord Snape and  (d) Lord Truscott in the last seven months.

Douglas Alexander: Ministers at the Department for International Development received no representations from Lord Moonie, Lord Taylor of Blackburn, Lord Snape or Lord Truscott in the last seven months.

United Nations: Climate Change

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what  (a) financial and  (b) in-kind contribution his Department made to the United Nations Adaptation Fund in 2008-09; what allocation he plans to make to the Fund in each of the next three financial years; whether such contributions are earmarked for specific projects; and whether such contributions will be repaid.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) provided an advance of 500,000 to support the set-up of the Adaptation Fund (AF) in 2008-09 and has pledged up to 500,000 more if needed for the same purpose, making the UK the biggest contributor to the AF Board so far. Decisions on how our contributions are used are taken by the AF Board. The fund's main source of income will be from a 2 per cent. levy on proceeds from Certified Emissions Reductions generated by the Clean Development Mechanism. Decisions on contributions beyond the 2 per cent. levy to the AF will be made when it becomes operational, and when its future role and scale becomes clearer through the climate change negotiations. DFID is also providing advisory support with 20 per cent. of a senior adviser's time as the UK alternate member of the AF Board, and support by other DFID and DECC staff working on climate change.